How one Mercedes driver handed another victory
The idea that Esteban Ocon deliberately hit Max Verstappen so Lewis Hamilton could win is madness. But this was still a race in which Verstappen had done everything right, and made clear to Mercedes how big a future title threat he is
"Right, let's get a gap to him then stroke it to the end," Max Verstappen was told over the radio after he'd passed Lewis Hamilton to take command of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
He'd done the hard work to climb from fifth on the grid, there were no more pitstops to make, and Hamilton's Mercedes team was focused more on getting him to the end amid engine problems than fighting back. The race was won.
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