Can Verstappen and Norris remain friends? Stella responds

Andreas Stella suggests the friendship between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will be hurt if the Dutchman doesn't apologise for the incident. Stella said this after the Austrian Grand Prix, where the two drivers crashed.

Lando Norris was furious with Max Verstappen after the Austrian Grand Prix. According to the Briton, Verstappen is responsible for the crash between the two and he hopes Verstappen will come up with an apology. Stella, after previously referring back to Verstappen's actions in the 2021 season, hopes the two can remain friends. Verstappen and Norris regularly fly together and play padel.

"I hope that's not going to [affect the relationship]. Obviously, when there's a rivalry in professional sports, at the pinnacle of sport, under the pressure that these guys experience, it's always gonna be a bit on the edge in terms of the implication for the human relationships," Stella told GPblog and others in the paddock.

"The drivers need to be able to show respect, show integrity and say, ‘Apologies, I overcooked it, I closed too much, I collided, my apologies'. I think the human relationship can continue. Actually, you will gain even more respect. Then you can see he's a tough contender, but at the same time, he can be somebody who can apologise. It won't be dependent on the outcome of the incident, but it will be more dependent on the values that you deploy before, during and after your experience. I don't think this is compromised, but this is a case in which somebody will have to apologise," he added.

Christian Horner had a slightly different view. The Red Bull Racing team boss jokingly said the two won't play padel tomorrow, but has no doubts about their long term friendship.