The 2024 Brazilian GP was full of thrill where Max Verstappen battled with his old rival Esteban Ocon to win his eighth title of the season. They were battling against each other after six years. In Brazil in 2018, the two were involved in a heated battle.

The Frenchman collided with Verstappen while trying to unlap himself. This led the Red Bull driver to spin and lose the lead which ignited a furious confrontation on Ocon. However, the incidents at Interlagos this year were totally different.

Max Verstappen had difficult outings before the race day, particularly in qualifying which placed him at P17. Despite this, he drove that exceptionally, marching through the field and setting the fastest lap one over the other. On lap 45 after the first safety car restart, Verstappen was battling the two Alpines.

Due to his new engine, he had more horsepower than any other car, which helped him overtake them. Esteban Ocon praised the Dutchman for racing so hard and always demonstrating his talent on the track. Everyone thinks we hate each other, but we don’t.

I can appreciate that he races really hard. It’s very straightforward and it all depends on who crosses the finish line first. With Max, there’s no bullshit.

Esteban Ocon said (via Motorsport)The Alpine driver finally had the chance to battle his old rival after six years, which left him feeling frustrated. The 28-year-old expressed his strong desire to go head-to-head with the three-time world champion on equal terms in the future. I’m really annoyed that I haven’t been able to fight him yet in my Formula 1 career.

We’re always in a different car, at a different level, which will hopefully change. I hope that in the future we can compete at the front, because in my first years at international level Max was clearly my biggest competitor. Esteban Ocon addedRELATEDMcLaren should reconsider its bet on Lando Norris for F1 futureEsteban Ocon appreciates Max Verstappen’s performance, says he ‘works his butt off’Everyone knows Max Verstappen’s success in F1 isn’t just about his raw talent.

The Dutchman is known for his relentless hard work on and off track in order to clinch the victories. His dedication, combined with his natural racing ability, makes him a tough competitor. Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon (via Formula 1)Esteban Ocon holds great respect for him because of these qualities.

The 28-year-old stated that Verstappen truly earned his championships through his hard work. If I look at what Max shows, he would really deserve to win (the championship, ed. ).

He works his butt off every race. He takes pole positions, even with a car that is not the fastest at the moment. He takes pole positions, even with a car that is not the fastest at the moment.

Esteban Ocon expressedRELATEDLewis Hamilton’s former teammate reportedly exploring Mercedes return after Audi snubVerstappen has successfully widened his gap with title rival Lando Norri. After facing setbacks for months, the Dutchman and team ended their 210-day winless streak in Brazil.