Max Verstappen reveals rival’s one-liner that set him off at the Brazilian GP

Max Verstappen didn’t attack Esteban Ocon because they collided on the track — it was what the Frenchman did afterwards that really set him off.

Verstappen and Ocon had a heated confrontation.

Max Verstappen was furious with Esteban Ocon after their collision, but initially had no intention of pushing him when they came face-to-face at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

But when Ocon had a wry smile on his face and claimed he was faster than the Dutchman, Verstappen pushed his foe in the paddock

The Red Bull driver was leading the race ahead of Lewis Hamilton when he was hit by the Force India star as he attempted to lap him.

But Ocon was in no mood to be overtaken as he held his ground against the Red Bull ace.

And that led to a collision, causing Verstappen’s car to momentarily shoot up into the air before spinning off, allowing eventual winner Hamilton to take the lead.

The young Dutchman was furious, calling Ocon a “f***ing idiot” over the radio and telling his team: “I hope I can’t find him now in the paddock because that guy has a f***ing problem.”

Verstappen doubled down, branding Ocon an “idiot” once more in his post-race interview and shoving him when they crossed paths. He later called Ocon a “p****”.

The contact on the track was repeated in the paddock after Verstappen confronted his rival and pushed him when he wasn’t happy with Ocon’s lack of remorse.

Read: Verstappen’s ‘violent’ attack on rival

Verstappen was fuming after the race.

Speaking to Dutch TV’s Ziggo Sport, Verstappen said: “It is always easy to talk afterwards. I just wanted to look for him and ask what was going on and find out how something like that could happen.

“But he immediately answered, ‘I was faster than you’ and said it with such a smile on his face.

“I tried to be as positive as possible towards my mechanics, but of course this second place doesn’t feel right.

“And then you meet someone like him who doesn’t even apologise for what happened and reacts exactly the other way around.”

The pair did make their peace eventually and shared a brief handshake in the Sao Paulo paddock.

But Verstappen was hit with a two-day “public service” punishment by the FIA.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner backed his driver, saying: “I think Max has been quite restrained to be honest. It’s cost him a grand prix victory. He’s driven his heart out with a damaged car.

“Esteban was lucky to get away with a push, to be honest with you. Emotions are running high.

“I told him, ‘Just get yourself under control’ on the cool-down lap because he’s lost a victory through no fault of his own today and it’s hugely frustrating for him and for the team.”

Horner said Ocon had no right to be challenging the race leader. “What on earth Ocon was thinking about there just beggar’s belief,” Horner said.

“It’s clear that as a lapped car you shouldn’t interfere with the leader.

“Why on earth is he racing the leader? He’s a lap down. He doesn’t have the pace.

“He’s chucked the car up the inside there. It just makes absolutely no sense at all.”

The crash that started it all.

Hamilton’s victory helped his Mercedes team to take the constructors’ title. He was reluctant to comment on Verstappen’s misfortune but said: “I saw it happen. I wasn’t surprised by it. I saw them racing and they weren’t racing for the same position.”

Hamilton, who had already sealed his fifth Formula One title, started from pole position and finished less than two seconds ahead of Verstappen. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium at Interlagos.

Daniel Ricciardo fought back from a grid penalty to finish fourth ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel finished sixth.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission