Riots in motorsport: Schumi's massage table and Rossi's fist

Max Verstappen versus Esteban Ocon, Formula 1, Brazil 2018: Verstappen was heading towards a secure victory at the front when Ocon bumped him off the track as he tried to circle back. Verstappen saves his battered Red Bull to second place and then pushes Ocon through the parc ferme with punches to the chest. The punishment for the hothead: Mad Max has to do community service on two days.

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Nikita Masepin versus Callum Ilott, Formula 3, Hungary 2016: Masepin finds himself hindered by Ilott on his fast lap in qualifying; in the pit lane he attacks his opponent with his fists. Ilott suffered a black eye and injuries to his jaw and cheek. Masepin is banned from the race in Hungary and, according to all observers, gets off more than lightly. Brad Keselkowski against Jeff Gordon, Nascar, Texas 2014: A risky overtaking maneuver by Keselkowski destroys Gordon's race, which Gordon doesn't just want to accept. In the end, the drivers' fist fight degenerates into a wild mass brawl between their two teams.

Valentino Rossi versus Max Biaggi, Motorcycle World Championships, Spain 2001: Record world champion Rossi was never a child of sadness; at times his extended middle finger almost led a life of its own. On the way to the award ceremony for the 500 cc race in Barcelona, there was a scuffle with Biaggi, who was narrowly beaten. Rossi doesn't hesitate for long, his fist hits under Biaggi's eye. He later downplays the matter: "A mosquito bit me." Nigel Mansell versus Ayrton Senna, Formula 1, Belgium 1987: While trying to overtake Senna on the outside in the double left-hand bend Pouhon, Mansell's Williams touches his Lotus. Senna is thrown out immediately, Mansell has to give up a little later. The angry Brit blames Senna, grabs the slight Brazilian by the overalls and gives him some good advice: "Just try to do your job right next time."

Michael Schumacher against David Coulthard, Formula 1, Belgium 1998: It is raining non-stop in Spa and the drivers' visibility is severely restricted. Leader Schumacher approaches Coulthard to lap him. Suddenly the McLaren slows down, the Ferrari crashes into its rear and loses a wheel. Schumacher saves the car into the pits, gets out in a rage and storms to the McLaren garage. “Are you trying to kill me?” he shouts at Coulthard, mechanics are struggling to separate the fighting parties.

David Coulthard (front) and Michael Schumacher (back) didn't always agree. © APA

Ayrton Senna against Eddie Irvine, Formula 1, Japan 1993: Senna has won the race, but he runs furiously into the Jordan Motorhome, where he attacks Irvine. He probably didn't make enough room willingly when the three-time champion rushed up in the McLaren. "If you had been fast enough, you could have easily overtaken me," says Irvine. That's enough. It takes a lot of effort to stop Senna from ramming his fist into the cheeky newcomer's face.

Michael Schumacher against Derek Warwick, World Endurance Championships, Germany 1991: In qualifying at the Nürburgring, Schumacher and Warwick engage in a tough duel for the fastest time. When Mercedes junior Schumacher shaved the right front wheel of Warwick's Jaguar while accelerating out of a curve, the Brit freaked out. At the level of the Mercedes pit, he jumps out of the still rolling car and follows Schumacher into a Mercedes team truck. There he throws his opponent onto a massage table and only allows Jochen Mass to hold him back from further attacks.

Nelson Piquet against Eliseo Salazar, Formula 1, Germany 1982: World champion Piquet leads the field in Hockenheim by a large margin when he runs into Salazar, who doesn't want to be lapped so easily. They both drive side by side into the curve, Piquet turns in and drives his Brabham directly into Salazar's ATS, which simply doesn't let off the accelerator. Both of them spin off the track, get out and attack each other with fists and kicks. At some point Piquet turns away gesticulating wildly.

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Riots in motorsport: Schumi's massage table and Rossi's fist

Max Verstappen's bullying of Esteban Ocon was not a novelty in motorsport; there have also been similar cases in Formula 1. Even record world champion Michael Schumacher was involved one time or another. Here we provide a list of notable disputes.

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