Ocon vs Verstappen Clash at Monza Sparks Rosberg Criticism
What was supposed to be just a practice session at Monza turned into another chapter of the Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen rivalry. During Free Practice 3, fans were treated to a surprising flash of aggression that caught the attention of 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg—who didn’t hold back his opinion on how Ocon handled the situation.
It all started on Monza’s long main straight. Verstappen, pushing his Red Bull into clean air for a flying lap, moved down the inside to pass Ocon in the Haas at the first chicane. The move stuck, but Ocon wasn’t about to give up. Swinging around the outside, he reclaimed track position and left both drivers with compromised laps. From the Sky F1 commentary box, Rosberg initially loved it, calling Ocon’s fightback “awesome.” For a moment, Ocon had been praised for showing spirit against a four-time champion.
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But things changed quickly. At the next major braking zone—the second chicane—Ocon tried once more to pressure Verstappen. This time, Verstappen anticipated it, shut the door, and ended the duel on his terms. Rosberg’s reaction shifted too. “There, Esteban could have handled that a bit better,” he said. The problem, in Rosberg’s eyes, wasn’t just the failed attempt. By showing Verstappen he wanted to keep pushing, Ocon invited the Dutchman to dominate the exchange. “That was not so smart,” Rosberg concluded.
For Verstappen, the whole thing was more than frustrating. Over the team radio, his response was filled with anger—and bleeped for broadcast—as he branded Ocon with a four-letter insult. The Dutchman had been looking for a clean run at pace but instead got tangled into a mini-battle that cost him track time.
It wasn’t the first time tempers flared between these two. The infamous 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix still lingers in the minds of F1 fans, when Ocon, then a backmarker, collided with race-leading Verstappen while trying to unlap himself. That incident ended with a paddock confrontation, Verstappen shoving Ocon, and plenty of heated fallout. With that history, every on-track moment between them carries a bit of extra spice.
This latest clash, though in practice, has added another layer. Ocon ended FP3 down in 20th, while Verstappen still managed a competitive fourth, less than two tenths behind session leader Lando Norris. The raw pace of the Red Bull remained intact, but the incident highlighted Verstappen’s fragile position in the championship. With Oscar Piastri leading the standings and Verstappen over 100 points adrift, there’s little margin for wasted opportunities.
As Rosberg pointed out, Verstappen seems to come out on top in these duels more often than not. And while Ocon’s willingness to fight was admired for a moment, the consensus from the commentary box was clear: this was a battle he might have been smarter to avoid. After all, Verstappen has built his reputation on turning skirmishes into victories—even when it’s just a practice session.
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