GPDA's Wurz to talk to Hamilton and Verstappen

GPDA chairman Alex Wurz says he plans on talking to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen about their run-in at Monza, but the German fears there will be more on-track clashes between the pair this season.

Verstappen and Hamilton will resume their fierce title battle this week in Sochi, with the Dutchman approaching the Russian Grand Prix weekend with a three-place grid penalty handed to him by the stewards for his involvement in the collision – the second of the season with his archrival.

Wurz, who governs the Grand Prix Drivers Association, believes both drivers "cracked under pressure" in Italy, and the former F1 driver plans on holding a conversation with F1's two protagonists who have "big chests and big racing egos".

"There will be a conversation, but you have to separate yourself from being in the car and making such decisions," Wurz told Sky Sports.

"They're only humans, and they were angry, both of them because of bad pit-stops and how the race unfolded, and you know you only have one opportunity.

"In this case maybe – to an extent – both cracked under this pressure and came together."

As the championship unfolds with Verstappen and Hamilton running neck-to-neck, Wurz believes its likely that more skirmishes will take place this season between the pair.

"I think [it's] very likely, to be honest," he commented. "Both have to mark their territory. That's sport.

"If you watch boxing, football, handball, whatever there is, when two greats are coming together, those things happen."

• Read also - Masi: 'You can't compare Hamilton and Verstappen penalties'

Wurz insists the on-track brawls between the Red Bull and Mercedes stalwarts haven't eroded their mutual respect.

"Outside the car, I talk to both, and they talk to each other, and they have great respect for each other, which is really nice to see," he said.

"But on the other side, 'On the track, we are here to fight, we are here to win the Formula 1 World Championship'.

"It's one of the most prestigious titles you can have in the world of sport. They have to fight, it's part of the game, hopefully with the respect they need for their own team and their own results, and not only for each other.

"Because to finish first you have to finish, so they can't afford too many crashes."

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