Disgruntled Verstappen labels Bottas penalty 'unfair'

Max Verstappen was at a loss to understand why he was given a 5-second time penalty for fighting Valtteri Bottas in the closing stages of the Italian Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver was under pressure from the Finn as the pair battled for third.

On the run down to the first chicane, Bottas went for the outside line but the Dutch driver defensively moved left to cover his rival's move, but a contact ensued between the two drivers with Bottas forced down the escape road.

A review of the incident by the stewards yielded a 5-second penalty for Verstappen and two penalty points on his superlicence, a decision the 20-year-old clearly disputed.

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Frustrated, he claimed in the heat of the moment the ruling meant the stewards "were doing a great job of killing racing."

When all was said and done, Verstappen was no less disappointed with the call.

"We were in a position where we didn’t expect to be. I think we gave him a car width, he clipped my wheel and he had to go straight. I don’t agree with it," said Verstappen.

"But maybe they took the penalty because earlier in the race when he first tried to tag me I went a bit wide but even then I think it’s not fair. Because they give it straight away.

"It’s a shame, but looking at the positives the car is working really well."

Over the course of twelve months, Verstappen has collected five penalty points on his license. As a reminder, a driver is handed a one-race ban in the event that he accumulates 12 or more penalty points over a 12-month period.

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