Force India’s Esteban Ocon has defended his decision to un-lap himself at the Brazilian Grand Prix, having caused a collision that compromised race leader Max Verstappen.
Ocon went around the outside of leader Verstappen at the Senna S as he tried to un-lap himself and the two came to blows through the second apex of the complex.
Verstappen expressed his frustration on the radio at the incident and went on to finish a close runner-up to Lewis Hamilton, having sustained floor damage in the incident.
Ocon went on to finish in 15th position, having been handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty and three points on his license by the stewards.
Verstappen and Ocon were involved in a confrontation in the FIA weighing area after the race, with the pair shoving each other before going their separate ways.
Both have been summoned to the stewards for an alleged breach of Article 12.1.1.c) of the FIA International Sporting Code, which refers to physical contact with another competitor.
“I was two laps behind Max, the first lap I was a lot faster, second lap was a lot faster, I had really fresh tyres basically," said Ocon.
“The rules say you are allowed to unlap yourself if you are faster, so that’s what I did on the second lap.
“I saw I had massive pace, I went around the outside, the same move I’d done on Fernando [Alonso] and many other drivers coming from last in the first lap.
“It didn’t happen the same way in the corner after that.
“What really surprised me is the behaviour of Max coming into the scales.
“The FIA having to stop him from being violent, he wanted to push me, punch me. That is not professional.”
