Verstappen does ‘not agree’ with Monza penalty

Max Verstappen was left smarting as a five-second penalty, which he feels was “not fair”, cost him a podium finish at the Italian GP.

Verstappen spent much of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix being chased by the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn’s first attempt to pass Verstappen early in the race saw the latter ran off the track but maintain his position – third – as Bottas never drew alongside.

However, they clashed again later in the race, this time with consequences.

Bottas used DRS to pull alongside Verstappen into the first corner only for the Red Bull driver to move onto the Finn’s line.

They touched, Bottas was sent down the escape road and Verstappen was given a five-second time penalty.

LAP 43/53: 💥 Contact between Verstappen and Bottas at Turn 1 – stewards are investigating… #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/zwe4hS98bu

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 2, 2018

Although he crossed the finish line in third place he fell to P5 when the penalty was applied.

“Well, we were in a position we didn’t expect to be and I think I gave him a car width on the left of me and he basically clipped my wheel and he had to go straight,” explained the Dutchman.

“So I don’t agree with it but maybe they took the penalty because when he first tired to attack me in the beginning of the race, I went a bit wide.

“Maybe that is why they gave it to me, but even then it is not fair because they gave it straight away.

“It is a shame but looking at the positives, the car was working really well.

“Yeah, even though the lack of top speed that we have, the car was good on the tyres.

“Of course, I have to push a bit harder under braking and in terms of acceleration to try to keep Valtteri behind so it also takes a bit out of your tyres but it was all under control.”