Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner has called criticism aimed at Max Verstappen by McLaren driver Andrea Stella “wrong and unfair”. Horner also insisted Verstappen “won’t change” his aggressive approach after his collision with Lando Norris at the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

After battling for the lead for several laps late in Sunday’s race, Verstappen collided with McLaren driver Norris at Turn 3, causing both tires to puncture. Verstappen finished fifth after changing tires, while Norris’s McLaren was so severely damaged that he could not continue. Afterwards, Norris and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella were extremely upset with Verstappen’s aggressive defensive tactics, feeling the Dutchman braked multiple times before pushing Norris off the track on Lap 64. But Horner said Verstappen “won’t change” his approach, implying that Norris is now discovering just how strong the racing world champion is.

“Certainly, as far as Max is concerned, he won’t change,” Horner told Sky Sports. “I think there’s an element of Lando learning how to race with Max and they’re discovering that. “There will definitely be more thrilling races between these two drivers as the cars look very evenly matched in the upcoming races. “Max is a great driver – he’s probably one of the best drivers on the track and everyone knows that if you race Max he’s going to give it his all.” Horner added that Verstappen and Norris had made it clear in private after leaving everyone cool after the race. “I understand they’ve already talked, I don’t think there’s any problem,” he said.

McLaren boss Stella believes Verstappen’s aggressive tactics were fueled by his 2021 racing campaign with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, with Stella feeling Verstappen was not adequately punished whenever he went over the limit in their fight for the title. Horner said that view was unfair, although he admitted that a clash between Verstappen and Norris “has been going on” since the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. “He raced very hard in 2021, he’s a great driver and really hasn’t raced anyone for two years because he’s led so much,” Horner said. “The conflict between the two arose over two, three, four races where they raced very fiercely and at some point that conflict would flare up – and that happened at Turn 3 .

“He has been punished in 2021 for doing anything wrong, just as Lewis, with whom he competed fiercely that year, was punished for the things he did wrong. “I think it’s wrong and unfair to label a racer like that, and I’m sure in the heat of the moment Andrea felt frustrated, but it was just a difficult race. “He worked with Michael Schumacher [at Ferrari] for so many years – he, more than anyone else, must know that.”