Brazilian Grand Prix: Furious Max Verstappen shoves 'idiot' Esteban Ocon in angry row after collision

A furious Max Verstappen confronted Esteban Ocon after the two collided at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was leading the race and looked certain for victory when the Force India of Esteban Ocon tried to unlap himself in turns one and two.

Ocon was on fresher tyres and was keen to pass. He put a move down the outside of the Red Bull.

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But leader Verstappen, most likely not expecting to be unlapped by the Frenchman, turned for the apex of the corner and the pair made contact, spinning them both and losing Verstappen first place. Lewis Hamilton profited from the crash, taking the lead and eventually the victory.

"What a f****** idiot," was Verstappen's initial response on the team radio, saying that he hoped he could not find Ocon in the paddock after the race.

Verstappen did find the Force India driver, though, and confronted him as he was waiting to be weighed in parc ferme. The two shared words before Verstappen shoved his rival, who appeared not to be in the mood for a physical confrontation. The Red Bull driver then pushed Ocon a further two times before angrily walking off.

Both drivers were summoned to the race stewards following the race for an alleged breach of the FIA International Sporting Code in acting "prejudicial to the interests of any Competition or to the interests of motor sport generally". The FIA decided that Verstappen's punishment would be two days of public service at their direction.

"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 caused him to loose his temper," the ruling read.

"While sympathetic to Verstappen’s passion, the Stewards determined that it is the oligation 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."

Ocon, who finished 15th and is without an F1 drive in 2019, was deemed to be at fault for the collision on-track by the FIA and was awarded a hefty 10 second stop/go penalty.

Verstappen swiftly exited the podium celebrations and further expressed his ire about the incident after the race. Lewis Hamilton suggested that he could have acted differently and gave the Force India more room. Verstappen disagreed.

"I think the penalty says enough. Of course you can easily say afterwards that I have much more to lose than him. What can I do about it? The penalty for me today was that I lost victory but hopefully in 15 years time I can laugh about it," he said.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Ocon said:  "What I am really surprised about is the behaviour of Max coming into the scales. The FIA having to stop him from being violent, pushing me and wanted me to punch me - and that is not professional," he added.

Both drivers have history, having competed in the lower formulae. "I am used to the fights with Max. It has been the same. It goes back a few years," Ocon said.

Verstappen was not keen to comment on the post-race incident for which he was summoned. "I don't really have a lot to comment on that, except he was being a p----," he said.  Both appeared to shake hands with one another after returning from the stewards, however.