Max Verstappen labelled an ‘idiot’ over decision that nearly cost his Italian GP win

Verstappen’s win added to his earlier triumph at Imola this season, but Tim Coronel had concerns about the way the Dutchman kept hold of the lead.

He cut across the Rettifilo chicane on the opening lap and held onto first place until Red Bull told him to give it back, which he did early on Lap 2.

Coronel said Verstappen’s pole showed Red Bull’s pace, but was uneasy about how things started on Sunday.

“I thought, ‘Oh s—. Idiot. Why are you doing that?’ Because you’re taking a risk if you don’t give that position back. He gave it back, but he went over it again so quickly. And I thought, ‘Ah, wait a minute, that means there’s a lot left’,” he told RacingNews365.

Lando Norris reacts to Verstappen’s early chicane incident at Monza

Unlike the 2021 clash with Hamilton, where Verstappen refused to give up the line into Turn 1 and ended up on top of the Mercedes, this time he avoided contact by using the run-off. Instead of trying to fight it out around the outside, he opted for a safer route through the escape road.

On team radio, Norris did not hide his frustration. He called Verstappen an “idiot” for trying to hold onto the lead after missing Turn 1, especially after being forced onto the grass down Monza’s narrow pit straight.

Red Bull quickly stepped in and told Verstappen to hand back the position, which he did at Turn 1 on Lap 2. With Norris having earned track position through a late lunge into Turn 1-2, it was a clear call. Giving back the lead also set Verstappen up to retake it cleanly just one lap later.

McLaren simply could not match Red Bull’s pace. Any penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage would have been unnecessary given how much quicker Verstappen was over Norris throughout Sunday’s race.