By alley - Jul 31, 2017, 11:05 AM ET

Ricciardo accepts Verstappen apology for clash

Daniel Ricciardo has accepted Max Verstappen's apology after the Australian retired on the opening lap of the Hungarian Grand Prix due to contact with his teammate.

With the pair battling for fourth place at the start of Sunday's race, Verstappen locked up at Turn 2 and understeered into the other Red Bull, damaging Ricciardo's sidepod and forcing him to retire. Immediately afterward,

Ricciardo was heavily critical of what he described as "amateur" and "immature" driving from his teammate

, but Christian Horner says the pair have since cleared the air.

"We discussed it [before the race], as we do every grand prix," Horner said. "'You are started next to each other. Please give each other room into Turn 1 and Turn 2. Dietrich [Mateschitz, Red Bull chairman] is here this afternoon. Let's not swap any carbon with each other.' And 'Yup, yup, yup,' both drivers nodded in agreement – and then of course as soon as the red lights go out, that goes completely out the window.

"But it is the first time it has happened in 18 months, and considering how often they have been close, and fighting so close with each other, it was inevitable that it was going to happen at some stage.

"The most important thing is how the individuals have dealt with it subsequent to it. Max has been mature enough to put his hand up and say, 'Yes I made a mistake, I apologize to Daniel and the team.' Daniel has had time to reflect on it and said, 'Yes I accept the apology.'"

Ricciardo himself tweeted on Monday that he had moved on following discussions with Verstappen.

"Yesterday was hard to take," Ricciardo said. "You build up all day for those couple hours of racing and then it's gone like that. Max apologized to me after the race and we spoke one on one, away from media or anyone.

"The situation was handled and taken care of in the right way to move forward. Lights go out again in four weeks."

While Horner described the stewards as "a little zealous" to hit Verstappen with a 10-second time penalty for the incident, he doesn't believe the collision cost Red Bull victory.

"In the qualifying positions we were in, no, you could see how hard an overtake was. Had we come around the first corner in clean air, then yes, the car would have been capable. But unfortunately from our position in qualifying compromised us. After that there was the incident in Turn 2 that had a major impact on our afternoon."