Alex Albon has predicted that Max Verstappen and Lando Norris's controversial collision in the Austrian Grand Prix could have an "impact" on their relationship.
On Lap 64 of the Austrian Grand Prix, the Red Bull and McLaren drivers collided at Turn 3 after Verstappen moved under braking, squeezing Norris to the outside.
Both drivers received punctures as Norris retired, with Verstappen finishing fifth having picked up a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points from the stewards.
The move under braking from Verstappen has been roundly criticised, with McLaren boss Andrea Stella even suggesting that it was a fallback into his 2021 driving style in the title fight against Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen's former Red Bull team-mate Albon, who is also good friends with Norris, feels the relationship between the two drivers, who are friendly away from the track, will change.
"Both were going for the win, so it is going to be emotional - fighting for victory, so it will have an impact on their relationship to some degree," Albon told media including RacingNews365.
"As McLaren are going to be fighting more and more for victory, I think we are going to get the same action this weekend and for the rest of the season.
"It is natural that when two drivers keep fighting themselves in first and second they are going to have more chances to bang wheels."
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Albon feels Verstappen-Norris clash blown out of 'proportion'
Albon also believes that there was another move from Verstappen that was more "questionable" than the Lap 64 contact that changed the face of the race.
"It is aggressive racing, but I think it is blown out of proportion," he added.
"The more questionable move was the first move where Max moved under braking for the first time - I don't think he moved under braking on the one where they made contact.
"He was just more heading in a straight line than going towards the left, but the reality of it was that it was just pure, hard racing."
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