Max Verstappen once had a physical altercation with Esteban Ocon at the 2018 F1 Brazilian GP

During the 2018 Formula One Grand Prix season, a major controversy unfolded at the Brazilian Grand Prix involving Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon. The intense altercation between the drivers had significant outcomes, impacting both their careers in the industry.

Subsequently, in the same season, Ocon had to part ways with Racing Point, leading the Frenchman to grab the role of a reserve driver at the Renault team in 2019. Despite the passage of numerous years, their interactions remain poisonous, primarily from past incidents.

What happened between Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon?

Six years ago, an unfortunate incident unfolded between the legendary drivers of Formula One. Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon, the drivers of Force India at the time, had always been involved in a heated rivalry both off and on tracks.

Due to their existing rage against each other, the drivers tried their best to secure victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix of the year, 2018. However, while preparing for the final lap in Q1, Verstappen’s car spun around due to their intense contact on the track with the Frenchman. Esteban Ocon had deliberately tried to surpass the Dutch sensation despite being a lap behind him, but his actions severely backfired. The stewards quickly handled the situation and imposed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty on Ocon.

The memory is rather bitter for both drivers; however, the drama did not entirely finish on the race track.

What were the consequences of Max Verstappen pushing Esteban Ocon?

After the event, Verstappen was fuming with anger due to his missed opportunity to secure a victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The incident’s impact delayed him, further putting him in the second position, behind Lewis Hamilton.

The Dutch driver had reached out to Esteban Ocon after the race and shoved him due to the Frenchman’s unnecessary and risky action. Both of the drivers were then called to the stewards for “physical contact with another competitor.” Force India had tried their utter best to defend their driver, as per the CCTV footage that recorded the entire aggressive exchange.

Red Bull’s team principal stood by Verstappen’s actions by stating that Ocon was lucky to get away with a mere push, to which the Red Bull driver added by saying, “What can I do about it? I lost a victory, but hopefully in 15 years, we can laugh about it.” To make the situation fair for everyone, the stewards imposed a heavy punishment on Verstappen by compelling him to carry out two days of public service at the FIA’s behest within six months.

What are your opinions on the incident between the duo? Let us know in the comment section below.