Horner: Ocon "lucky to get away with push" from Verstappen

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said that Esteban Ocon is "lucky" to just have received a push from Max Verstappen, as the Dutchman confronted Ocon after colliding on the track earlier.

When Verstappen was leading the race, he wanted to overtake backtracker Esteban Ocon at the Senna S. The Frenchman fought back, however, and the two collided. Both cars got spun around, and Verstappen lost his lead to Lewis Hamilton, who went on to win another race for Mercedes.

Verstappen already downplayed the incident after the race, and Horner also defended his driver, saying the Dutchman showed a lot of restraint.

“I think Max has been pretty restrained, it cost him a Grand Prix victory,” the Brit told Sky Sports F1.

“He’s driven his heart out with a damaged car – Esteban was lucky to get away with a push to be honest.

“Emotions are running high and I told him to just get yourself under control on the cool down lap,” Horner added.

“He’s lost a victory through no fault of his own today.”

Looking back on the incident, Horner is left scratching his head when he talks about what Ocon was thinking.

“The lead car has just lapped the Force India and it’s clear you shouldn’t interfere, as a lapped car, with the leader.

“What on earth Ocon was thinking there, it just beggars belief. Why on earth is he racing the leader?

“He’s a lap down, he doesn’t have the pace and he’s chucked the car up the inside there. It just makes absolutely no sense at all.”