FIA respond to Verstappen's Monza rant

FIA race director Charlie Whiting accepted Max Verstappen's angry team radio message following his Italian Grand Prix time penalty was in the heat of the moment. Verstappen was given a five-second sanction, which dropped him from third to fifth at Monza, for aggressively defending position against Valtteri Bottas.

The Red Bull driver had to cut the first chicane when Bottas attacked, but was allowed to keep the place as the Mercedes had also struggled under breaking.

However, when Bottas returned with fresher tyres, Verstappen ran his rival wide, forcing the Finn to take evasive action on the escape road.

VIDEO: Verstappen's uncensored Monza rant

When informed of his penalty, Verstappen said the stewards were "killing racing", while turning the air blue, but whiting was not overly concerned.

"I heard that second-hand," Whiting said of Verstappen's rant.

"I don't think you can take too much notice of comments made in the heat of battle, but I'm sure at the next drivers' briefing we'll have a little chat about that.

"As I say in the heat of battle, that's absolutely expected."

Verstappen suggested that the issue had been marginal, and claimed that it might not have been punished by all stewards.

"I've watched it back, of course, and I still don't agree with it," he told Ziggo Sport. "Maybe I could have given him a couple of more millimetres, but he was on the white line.

"But yeah, we can talk about this for a whole lot longer, it already has been decided.

"One steward gives a penalty, another doesn't. I don't think it's the rules."