Verstappen gives view on Monaco penalty

Matthew Scott
Wednesday 5 June 2019 17:32

Max Verstappen accepted the penalty that cost him a podium at the Monaco Grand Prix, accepting that he would be punished for an unsafe release. Verstappen dropped from second at the chequered flag to fourth after an incident with Valtteri Bottas in the pit-lane.

Trying to jump Bottas in the pits, Red Bull rushed Verstappen out from his service, pushing the Finn into the wall and causing a puncture on the Mercedes.

Verstappen tailed Lewis Hamilton for more than 50 laps in Monte Carlo, but was unable to make his way through and ultimately dropped behind Sebastian Vettel and Bottas when his penalty was applied.

Although Verstappen said the release was not his fault, he accepted having to carry the can.

"It was clear that a penalty would follow, it is what it is," Verstappen told former Red Bull man Mark Webber on Servus TV.

"It was just an 'unsafe release'.

"I think that if we hadn't touched, nothing would have been wrong. However, I had no clue that Valtteri was next to me. It's of course a shame, but it was a good race."

Verstappen has driven superbly so far this year as Red Bull have wrestled with 2019's new regulations and getting to grips with their new Honda power units.

"Everything is going well and I am very happy," Verstappen said. "I feel very well adjusted in the team.

"I am having fun and that is eventually also very important for a team. The whole team is very motivated, also because of our new partner Honda.

"But we need to get at it, we know that and we like to as well."