Ted Kravitz ‘amazed’ that one driver was Max Verstappen’s ‘biggest supporter’ at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen faced an inevitable grilling from the media ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The fallout from his penalties in Mexico rages on.

A week ago, the question was whether Lando Norris deserved a penalty at the US GP. But this time around, few have questioned whether the sanctions imposed on Verstappen – two lots of 10 seconds – were justified.

Instead, the focus has been on Verstappen’s tactics. The F1 world has debated whether he fights fair, and whether he needs to change.

The Red Bull driver, who’s 47 points clear of Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings, was predictably defiant in the press conference. He told host Tom Clarkson ‘I know what I’m doing’ when asked if he’d modify his approach.

Earlier, his former rival Lewis Hamilton refused to be fully drawn on the debate. But he did hint that Verstappen was still defending in the same highly controversial manner as 2021, and would continue to do so until the sport changes its rules.

Verstappen has picked up six penalty points in the past year, halfway to a race ban. Only Fernando Alonso (eight) has accumulated more.

Ted Kravitz can’t believe that Esteban Ocon defended Max Verstappen at Brazilian Grand Prix

Speaking on Ted’s Podbook, Sky Sports F1 presenter Ted Kravitz revealed that Esteban Ocon was Verstappen’s ‘biggest supporter’ on media day. He couldn’t believe this ‘considering their personal history’.

At this very race in 2018, Verstappen pushed Ocon in parc ferme after a collision on track. The Dutchman was leading when the then-Force India driver tried to unlap himself, with disastrous results.

Verstappen incurred community service from the FIA for that offence, but he still found an unexpected ally in Ocon when it came to his driving style. The Frenchman feels that a driver is entitled to ‘do anything when he’s fighting for a title.

“Amazingly, considering their personal history, Esteban Ocon was Max’s biggest supporter today, when he was saying ‘look, when you’ve got to win a championship, you’re going to do anything’,” Kravitz said. “Ocon said ‘I don’t like rules’, which I found quite funny.”

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Ocon also has a reputation as one of F1’s most aggressive racers. He’s even collided with his teammate on six occasions during his career.

From that standpoint, one can see why he’d defend Verstappen. F1 drivers will discuss potential changes to the racing rules in Qatar next month.

Steward Johnny Herbert is a ‘big fan’ of Verstappen but wishes he didn’t skirt the boundaries. He was particularly unimpressed with his defending against Hamilton at the 2021 race in Brazil.

Meanwhile, 1996 world champion Damon Hill says Verstappen has ‘let himself down’. Hill felt his turn seven move on Norris in Mexico – when he was penalised for leaving the track and gaining an advantage – was ‘silly’.