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FIA race director Charlie Whiting gives his verdict on Ocon/Verstappen clash

Esteban Ocon's collision with Max Verstappen while trying to unlap himself was "wholly unacceptable", according to FIA race director Charlie Whiting.

Ocon was trying to unlap himself from Verstappen when the incident occurred and his positioning at the apex of Turn 2 led to a collision between the two drivers, costing Verstappen the lead of the race.

Whiting does not sit on the stewards' panel that gave Ocon a stop-go penalty for the collision, but, in his role as race director, he can refer incidents to the panel for judgement. He is also a key figure in defining the sporting regulations that dictate what is acceptable on track and regularly speaks with teams and drivers about such matters at race weekends.