It is no secret that Max Verstappen absolutely hated the entire Las Vegas weekend, however, the Dutchman did not hesitate to show how he felt during the qualifications causing yet another hate story between him and Esteban Ocon.
Esteban Ocon and Verstappen have struggled to get along for a long time now. After their fight involving the collision the Dutchman aggressively shoved the French driver. However, their hate story has not quite ended yet as the two continue to cross each other’s paths in the most unflattering ways possible.
The Las Vegas GP started their qualifications after having the most troublesome end to their FP sessions however, the qualifications too turned into a session of raging fits thrown on the team radios of Verstappen and Ocon. While Ocon was far ahead and giving his best for a good result, Verstappen suddenly cut off Ocon as he dove into Turn 1.
Ocon, however, was not having any of Verstappen’s shenanigans and was heard raging on the team radio. The Frenchman said, “That’s a joke, honestly. Verstappen diving into Turn 1 like crazy.” Meanwhile, Max Verstappen let his team know that he was not happy having to tangle with the “idiot” either.
Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen spicy clash in Q1 😬
Via [u/ContentPuff]#F1 #LasVegasGP #LasVegasGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/AEcaYACKgj
— Formula1AN (@Formula1AN) November 18, 2023
Verstappen shouted on the radio saying, “What a stupid idiot.”
Max Verstappen representando lo que el 99% de los fanáticos de la F1 pensamos sobre Esteban Ocon. pic.twitter.com/odWI7DmWoh
— Marta (@mnttva) November 18, 2023
The two clashed before Verstappen ran off to the side and Ocon went past him and continued his lap. Although the qualifications continued, both drivers clearly felt angry because the clash caused both the drivers to slow down further restricting them from putting in a good lap.
Esteban Ocon or Max Verstappen: Who is to blame for the crazy Q1 incident?
Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon have had a few issues arise between them for some time now. What had started as a possible friendship between the two, soon ended with the hunger that drives them both. However, it did not stop the Dutchman and the Frenchman from showing case their hate story although who really was to blame?
Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon clashed with each other during their flying laps which caused both to lose a little bit of pace. However, another onboard footage from Max Verstappen’s RB19 showed a closeup of the clash.
At first, Ocon overtook Max during his flying lap and entered Turn 1, however, that is when the Dutchman caught upto the Alpine driver and tried to overtake him. By then Ocon had already taken a turn which caused the two to clash.
Here is more context to the Ocon-Verstappen moment in Q1
Ocon overtook Max before Max overtook him, which ruined both their laps#F1 #LasVegasGPpic.twitter.com/F1sCxYgDoO
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) November 18, 2023
The aftermath of the entire clash left Verstappen losing a little pace and slowing him down while Ocon passed ahead. Soon after, both their team radios heard the drivers raging on the radio as they cursed each other out.
The qualifications ended with Ocon out in Q2 meanwhile, Max Verstappen made it into Q3 and took a Q2 position for the race with Charles Leclerc on pole yet again.
