F1: Should Verstappen Have Given Ocon More Space?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/46174973
This was a simple case of making sure you don't screw up when winning a race. Ok so the stewards cited Ocon but as hamilton later said to Verstappen, he has more to lose. Cold comfort being correct having lost. I any case I cannot see where Ocon is supposed to go in this situation.

[-SharonA-]

I blamed Verstappen. To me it looked like he drove across to try and get in front of Ocon. And what was Ocon supposed to do?? Slow down or drive off track?

[mushroom25]

no simple answer. probably - he was quicker.
https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/3359/video-ocon-crash-takes-verstappen-out-the-lead/

[douglas9401]

Wee Max has a bit of the entitlement about him, and he fights like a girl.
A bit more care all round and the whole thing could have been avoided.

[rowanwitch]

Does he make room for anyone

[ToraToraTora]

can you imagine him shoving James Hunt like that? Wallop!

[chelle7272]

Esteban was far too aggressive, you can unlap yor;sef yes but not usually with such risky moves

[sunny-dave]

Ocon has no drive for next season ... I suspect there may have been a bit of "look at me, I'm good enough for a seat" going on.

Perhaps Max should have seen the potential for a problem, but he was (at least) half a car's length ahead and had every right to take the line he did - Ocon had plenty of time to bail out & decided not to - daft I call it.

[ToraToraTora]

Ocon was faster having just pitted, VER should have let him go he was irrelevant to the main race. The more experienced drivers would not have got involved here.

[New Judge]

I didn't read it like that.

Ocon went into the first of the two corners alongside Max (on the outside). He was never less than half a car length down between the two and was still half a car length behind when Max turned into the apex. There was no way Max didn't know he was very close. And short of slamming on his brakes or driving off the track he had nowhere to go when Max turned in. Had this been an incident where they were both fighting for the same position I believe the stewards should have seen it at the very least as a racing incident or that Max was to blame. I've watched it a few times and it seems to me that Max wasn't having any of it (a lapped runner overtaking him). He could have easily avoided any chance of a collision and as Lewis said to him in the cool down room "He had nothing to lose. You did"

It's a shame because I don't like to see races interfered with by back markers but I believe Max had plenty in hand. He could have let Ocon pass and would soon have caught him up on a straight and sailed past him. Lesson learned, hopefully.

[New Judge]

^^^^
I didn't see it as dave did. I'm with 3Ts on this one.

[ChillDoubt]

Yes, Verstappen should have given him more space. He says Ocon is an idiot so why dice with him in close proximity?

As has been said, Lewis summed it up for him succinctly, which cause JV to pause and reflect.
He will get better at managing it as he matures but he needs to lose the sense of entitlement.