Whiting: “Ocon absolutely has the right to overtake” Verstappen

The subject is on everyone's lips in the paddock and among fans. Formula 1. More than the victory of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and the Manufacturers' title for Mercedes at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, it is the collision followed by the altercation between Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Esteban Ocon (Racing Point Force India) which is the event of the weekend.

Punished with a stop & go penalty in the pits, the Frenchman finished 15th in the event, while the Dutchman got away with two days of community service for having physically pushed his opponent at the weigh-in after the arrival.

Race director for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Charlie Whiting delivered his analysis. « Or with absolutely has the right to return to the leader's lap. It's clear that this has happened many times in the past. »

What the Briton didn't like was the way Racing Point Force India attacked. “You expect this maneuver to be done safely, but also that it must be done cleanly and without any fights. You should not fight to overtake in this case. »

Charlie Whiting specifies, however, that “one could expect that Red Bull design (To Verstappen) that Ocon had the rhythm, that we just had to let it go, that kind of thing.” But Esteban Ocon’s behavior didn’t really please him…

« It looks like he just attacked, it's a shame he decided to fight like that, it was totally unacceptable. » And it doesn't matter whether it's against the race leader or not.

« I don't think it makes any difference whether Max is the leader at this point. This makes things even worse in the eyes of the spectators, but from a commissioner's perspective, it doesn't change anything. »

Discover the analysis of the Brazilian GP carried out by our special correspondents in AUTO issue 2191hebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.