Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has claimed Lewis Hamilton avoided a penalty at the Monaco Grand Prix because of Niki Lauda.
The Austrian was venting his displeasure at the stewards post-race in Monte Carlo after Max Verstappen lost second place due to his own five-second penalty because of his pit-stop release endangering personnel.
On that incident, however, Marko believes the Dutchman’s history with the race officials continues to play a role.
“We were ahead of Bottas, but apparently Max can’t do much good in the eyes of the stewards,” he told De Telegraaf.
“I realise that they are not his biggest fans.”
Bottas though accused Verstappen of “drifting right” into him down the pit-lane and claimed the penalty was justified.
“It’s a tricky one because there is no way I could ever gain back the positions I lost, except at least Max’s position with his penalty,” the Finn commented.
“But the position I lost to Sebastian there’s no way I’d ever gain it back. He did his penalty, I think it’s OK. There’s not much to say more than that.”
After the pit-stop, the race became a head-to-head between Verstappen and Hamilton, who was having to nurse his medium tyres to the finish.
Max though did launch one attack into the chicane late on with the two cars touching wheels.
Marko suggested the world champion should be penalised for turning in on the Red Bull but “because he wore a red hat in honour of Niki Lauda that would certainly not be the case”.
