That was how I took it. It was two pronged. Jakob respects Hocker because he knows Hocker will show up more frequently than Kerr does. That led to the brief chat and hand clasping.
However, there is a second equally important element. On a race to race basis Jakob doesn't fret Hocker. Today's result will confirm that to him. Kerr gives Jakob more trouble because knows Kerr with cling to him and out finish him. Hence the strategy in Paris. If Kerr didn't exist Jakob wouldn't have felt the need to run it that way.
Jakob will view Hocker as a more erratic occasional threat but not somebody who forces him to alter race tactics or forces him to check the big screen or look over the shoulder.