Marko thinks stewards are too harsh on Verstappen

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes the Formula 1 stewards are too harsh on Max Verstappen following the five-second penalty given to the Dutchman due to his infringement with Valtteri Bottas in the pit-lane at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Verstappen pitted under the safety car, and in a congested pit-lane, came out in front of Bottas, after a little nudge with the Red Bull. The stewards investigated the incident, and penalised the 21-year-old with a five-second penalty.

The Red Bull driver tried getting in front of Lewis Hamilton so the penalty wouldn't affect his race, but the Mercedes driver held on, and Verstappen's shot at a podium finish in Monaco disappeared.

"We were ahead of Bottas, but apparently Max can't do much good in the eyes of the stewards," Marko said to De Telegraaf. "I realise that they are not his biggest fans.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes that the penalty awarded to Verstappen was justified: "What Verstappen did ruined two races. He lost the podium and Valtteri also lost a position."