Verstappen and Ocon clash on and off the track
Lewis Hamilton celebrated winning the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday and securing the constructors’ championship for Mercedes, but the headlines at Interlagos went to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
With 44 laps gone in the 71-lap race, leader Verstappen was sent spinning after a clash with Force India’s Esteban Ocon. The incident on the Senna S dropped Verstappen into second place with Hamilton taking the lead and the chequered flag. Verstappen finished second and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was third.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Verstappen, who was visibly fuming at Ocon, was caught on camera giving a finger gesture to the Frenchman while driving away. On the team radio he also called Ocon “a f***ing idiot”, the Independent reports.
Despite the action on the track it was after the race where the fireworks really started. In the driver weighing room a furious Verstappen confronted Ocon and shoved his rival three times as FIA officials were forced to jump in.
It was confirmed last night that Verstappen will be required to take part in two days of “public service” at the direction of the FIA, F1.com reports. He will be expected to perform the days of public service within the next six months.
The official stewards’ verdict read: “The stewards understood from Max Verstappen that he was extremely upset by the incident on track during the race and accepted his explanation that it was not his original intent to strike Ocon, but that he was ‘triggered’ and [this] caused him to lose his temper.
“While sympathetic to Verstappen’s passion, the stewards determined that it is the obligation of sportsmen at this level to act appropriately and as role models to other drivers at all levels and found that Verstappen failed in this respect.”
Hamilton and Mercedes celebrate
Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Brazil means that Mercedes have wrapped up the 2018 F1 constructors’ championship.
It’s the fifth successive team title for the Silver Arrows. World champion Hamilton is now aiming to plot further domination of F1, Sky Sports reports.
Mercedes have five constructors’ championships compared to Ferrari’s all-time record of 16, but Hamilton said: “I want to continue to help elevate Mercedes to make them the most successful brand of all-time.
“I am so proud to have been part of it – and here’s to many, many more. They give me the tools and I try to do the best I can with it. I’m proud that I’m able to sometimes bring a little bit more than is needed or that it’s capable of, but that’s what I live for.”
Next grand prix
The final race of the 2018 Formula 1 season will be held on Sunday 25 November at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE.