Verstappen keen to ease Ricciardo tensions

Max Verstappen expects to speak to Daniel Ricciardo again to try to ease tensions over the pair's first lap crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix,

Verstappen locked up and ran into the side of Ricciardo's car in Turn 2 of the opening lap of Sunday's Hungarian GP, which was won by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

Australian Ricciardo was forced to retire following the crash while Verstappen, 19, was given a 10-second penalty by the stewards. 

A furious Ricciardo called the young Dutchman "an amateur" following the collision, while Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says the Dutchman "broke the golden rule" by crashing into a team-mate.

And Verstappen wants the pair to put the incident behind them ahead of the next race after the summer break, the Belgian GP, at the end of August.

"I've talked to him, but we will probably talk again before the next race at some point," said Verstappen. "We have always had a very good relationship."

When asked if he and Ricciardo were friends again after the crash, Verstappen said: "I think so. But I will keep this between me and Daniel."

Verstappen says the sparse overtaking opportunities afforded by the tight Hungaroring track forced him into taking a risk at the start of Sunday's race.

"You know, the first lap needs to happen, and you need to try and get in the best possible position," he continued.

"That's when you go for it, because that will be your position. You do everything you can, of course, to move forward.

"I locked up and from then onwards you are just a passenger in your own car. Look, we were both looking to move towards the front. 

"I locked up because I had another car in front of me and then I hit Daniel. That is of course not want you want, but you don't do it on purpose."

The Belgian Grand Prix will be shown live over the weekend of 25-27 August on eir sport in Ireland.

Photo Getty Images/ Clive Mason

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