Max fifth at Italian Grand Prix after time penalty: 'Gave Bottas enough space'

Published on 02 September 2018 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen finished fifth at the Italian Grand Prix. The Dutchman is on a course for the podium for quite some time, but was eventually penalized for a defensive move on Bottas by the Stewards of the Race. Verstappen came in third after the chequered flag dropped, but after adding the time of the five-second penalty he had been given, the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-driver was demoted to P5, behind of Bottas and even Sebastian Vettel. Lewis Hamilton took the pole home in a race where he outclassed both Ferrari-drivers. Kimi Raikkonen managed to console the Italian fans with his second place finish.

Max explains what happened after the race regarding his fight with Bottas, resulting in the time-penalty: “I gave Valtteri enough space. If he clips my wheel, that’s not something I can do anything about. While braking you are allowed to move to the left, as long as you leave one car width of space. That’s what I did, but he clipped my wheel. I could have easily let Bottas pass and just go for the points, but that’s not me.”

After the five-second time-penalty, Verstappen did his best to keep the Finn behind of him: “After I got the time-penalty, I knew for sure I was not going to let him by. I knew I was going to finish fifth, so I had nothing to lose.”

All in all, Max is still positive about his race: “We remained third on the track, so I am very happy with that. Regarding the race pace, it was just good today, even though we lack top speed on the straights. In any case we still managed to score some decent points again.”

Finally the youngster looks ahead at the coming race in Singapore: “Concerning the car, everything is going well. I hope we can extract enough power from the engine there to be able to come along.”

It is after three o’ clock when the lights go out on Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. Max Verstappen has a clean getaway and immediately clears Valtteri Bottas entering the first corner. Ahead of them, things go a little sour between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. The Britt puts his Mercedes on the outside of Turn four while braking, but Vettel is too aggressive on the brakes and spins after having hit Hamilton. He drops way back, but the German goes in for a fresh set of softs. Max Verstappen moves up one spot as a result of this incident.

Brendon Hartley also suffers some damage in the first lap. At the start the New-Zealander is hit by Marcus Ericsson, causing the suspension of the Toro Rosso to brake off. This triggers the safety car and the end of his race.

When the field is let loose again, Lewis Hamilton benefits massively from the available slipstream. The Britt takes over the lead from Kimi Raikkonen at the end of the straight, but he is having none of it and at the next chicane he shows the Britt what he is made of and re-takes his position for the lead in the race. One lap later, Fernando Alonso is the second drop out of the race when a technical issue puts a spoke in the Spaniard’s wheels.

Kimi Raikkonen is by now leadig the race albeit said that the gap to Lewis Hamilton is marginal. Max Verstappen is four seconds down and running in third, but Valtteri Bottas still has his eyes set on him. The gap is with a little over one second, just big enough to prevent the Finn to get in striking range with his DRS. Despite that the gap is getting smaller every lap and on lap nineteen Bottas undertakes a bold move to overtake Verstappen. Both drivers out brake themselves and continue on their way in the same position.

Two laps later, Kimi Raikkonen comes in for his first and only stop after Mercedes pulled a dummy on the Italian squad. The 38-year old Finn rejoins in fourth on the Italian circuit and Hamilton is then told to push. In the end it proves not to be enough for him to get back on track in the leading position after his stop.

Daniel Ricciardo also doesn’t make it to the end of the race. On lap 25 the Red Bull Racing-driver parks his RB14 trackside in the grass, his power unit failed him. This leaves Max Verstappen troubled, as he immediately asks him team if his own engine is ok. The Dutchman is quickly reassured by his team and comes in on lap twenty seven for a new set of softs.

Mercedes plays a strategic game by keeping Valtteri Bottas out on track for a long time during the second half of the race. This results in Kimi Raikkonen being backed up as Lewis Hamilton slowly but surely inches up. When Bottas eventually pits, the gap between Raikkonen and Hamilton has been brought down do just one second. Max Verstappen now has a chance for the podium due to Bottas’ pit stop.

Bottas closes once again the gap to Verstappen and keeps mounting the pressure. Trying to overtake, at the end of the straight, Max leaves his opponent not enough space. This causes Bottas to lock up and go straight. The Stewards of the Race think he could have left more space and slap the youngster with a five-second time-penalty.

At the front of the field, the fight is still going on. Lewis Hamilton manages to overtake race leader Raikkonen on lap forty five. Due to the poor condition of the tyres on the Ferrari, all hope for a home victory is out of the window for the Scuderia.

Lewis Hamilton brings home his Mercedes and the victory, with a gap of some nine second on Kimi Raikkonen. Max Verstappen finishes in third, but is fifth on the leaderboard due to his time-penalty. Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel take P3 and P4. The latter manages to keep the damage regarding the standings in the championship in check. Romain Grosjean, Esteban Ocon, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll round up the top ten.

Results Grand Prix Italy: