It hasn’t happened too often this season unlike in 2021. However, at the 2022 Brazilian GP, we finally witnessed a Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen collision, a common occurrence in the previous 2021 season. But, if you are divided as a fan as to who was at fault, let us give you some more context.
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Both the Red Bull man and his orange army might feel hard done by the decision. However, fans are taking to Twitter to draw comparisons with a similar collision between Verstappen and Esteban Ocon. In the 2018 incident, Ocon was the guilty party and was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty.
Being a lap down, Ocon, trying to unlap himself, was where Verstappen was at the time of his collision with Hamilton. The result for both these incidents were pretty similar.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 09: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP. F1 Grand Prix of Spain on May 09, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Emilio Morenatti – Pool/Getty Images)
Verstappen, who was leading the race in 2018, was furious with Ocon after the crash. The Red Bull man was extremely livid and even shoved Ocon during his confrontation.
Fast forward to the past Sunday’s race, Verstappen did not feel the stewards made the right call, giving him a 5-second penalty.
“I really felt he was not going to leave space, so I just went for it,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. “He didn’t leave me space so I knew we were going to get together. It cost him the race win. For me, it gave me five seconds.”
While the 2018 incident cost Verstappen the race win, the 2022 one, as Max said, cost Hamilton his first win of the season. But seeing the Dutch Man’s reaction in both incidents, do you think his actions were hypocritical? Well, Twitter certainly thinks so.
Read More: Lewis Hamilton Responds to Aggressive Max Verstappen
The comparisons of the two incidents are making rounds on the internet and fans on Twitter are passing their judgment.
Fans react to Max Verstappen shoving Esteban Ocon for the same move he made on Lewis Hamilton
The fans are pointing out the similarities of the move that resulted in a collision on both occasions. However, the fans cannot come to grips with the completely separate reactions to a similar incident.
So yesterday in Interlagos Max Verstappen did to Lewis Hamilton the same Ocon did to him in 2020 on the same track - he furiously & physically confronted Ocon for it after the race. But now Max complains that yesterday it was his turn and that the penalty he got was “unfair”. 🤷🏻♂️
Hamilton isn’t afraid of Verstappen. He’s not just going to let him through. He punched Ocon in 2018 for doing exactly what he did today. I’ve never heard any other driver say Max is ‘fair’ like you hear the likes of Seb, Charles and even Max’s own teammate talk about Lewis
Max has driven this entire season clean and fair. Never collided with anyone. Just look at yesterday's sprint between him and George. It took ~1 race with Hamilton at the front to have a collision. I think this explains who is the problem .
The stewards’ decision split the internet, but the fans of Hamilton are putting up a strong case because of the similarity of the incidents.
Does this mean Lewis Hamilton is allowed to assault Verstappen since Max did it to Ocon after a identical crash?
all the max fans are fuming at ocon for that but when it’s Hamilton on the outside (was verstappen in 2018) it’s now all his fault, max fans are so unserious
Verstappen was never going to make T2 without Hamilton backing right out. Exactly the same as Verstappen/Ocon a few years ago which Ocon recieved a 10 sec stop go penalty
The fans are unanimously pointing out the similarity between the situation and Verstappen’s reckless reaction.
Ocon/Verstappen at same corner in 2018. Ocon driver at fault.
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Do you think Verstappen’s reaction to Ocon in 2018 was just? If yes, do you think he should take responsibility for the crash with Hamilton in 2022?