* Size: Basking sharks are the second-largest fish in the world, often growing to over 30 feet long. Great whites, while large, typically reach around 15-20 feet. While a great white could potentially take down a juvenile basking shark, attacking a fully grown one would be incredibly difficult and risky.
* Diet: Basking sharks are filter feeders, primarily consuming plankton. Great whites are apex predators, with a diet consisting of seals, sea lions, fish, and other marine mammals. Their feeding styles and prey preferences are drastically different.
* Behavior: While both species are powerful predators, their hunting strategies are quite different. Great whites are ambush hunters, while basking sharks passively filter food from the water.
There's no known documentation of a great white shark successfully killing and consuming a full-grown basking shark.
It's important to remember that even though it's highly unlikely, it's not impossible. The ocean is vast and full of surprises, and there might be rare instances of these two species interacting in unexpected ways. However, based on their size, diet, and hunting behavior, it's highly improbable that a great white shark would actively prey on a basking shark.