Hamilton: I would have approached Ocon differently to Max

Brazilian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton says he would have had “a different frame of mind” to Max Verstappen following his mid-race collision with Esteban Ocon.

The Red Bull driver lost the chance of taking what looked to be a certain victory in Brazil when he clashed with Esteban Ocon on Lap 44.

Ocon sent Verstappen spinning while attempting to unlap himself at Turn 1, an incident that led to a heated post-race exchange between the two drivers, with video footage showing Verstappen repeatedly pushing Ocon.

“I saw it happen and it was something that… I wasn’t surprised by it,” said Hamilton, who took advantage to seal an unlikely win.

“I saw them racing but they weren’t racing for the same position. I would have been in a different frame of mind.

“Fortunately he was able to keep going, no one got hurt and they kept going and it was a racing incident I guess.

“Max is like that. He’s a go-getter guy and every now and then it comes to bite you.

“But I’m really, really proud [to win], I don’t care about anyone else.”

Ocon received a 10-second stop-go penalty for the collision, with Force India and Red Bull both at odds over who was to blame for the incident.

Hamilton, who recorded his 10th victory of the season to help Mercedes seal a fifth straight constructors’ title, was seen telling Verstappen that Ocon was allowed to unlap himself in the drivers’ cool down room.

Verstappen agreed but stressed “you can’t crash”, before Hamilton concluded the conversation by adding: “You had more to lose than he did. He had nothing to lose.”