Red Bull's Mekies explains decision to ask Verstappen to give back places in Madrid

Laurent Mekies has explained Red Bull's decision after the team told Max Verstappen to give back places at the start of the Spanish Grand Prix.

The four-time World Champion tangled with Lewis Hamilton after lights out at the start of the race in Madrid, as the Ferrari driver got ahead before Verstappen kept his P3 starting position, but only after cutting the first turn.

The Dutchman said on the radio that Hamilton “almost shunted him” and tried to resist team instructions to give the place back to avoid a potential penalty, especially after he had since overtaken Kimi Antonelli for P2.

After giving in and allowing both Antonelli and Hamilton through, he quickly returned to the top three after the Ferrari had a problem with its brakes, with the Briton forced to retire.

Verstappen was also able to make the most of a Virtual Safety Car period during his pit stop and eventually finished the race in P2 behind winner Antonelli.

Following Sunday's Grand Prix, Red Bull Team Principal Mekies was asked about the decision making progress and, while he admitted the team weren't expecting a "thank you email from Max in the car", they felt it was the right decision and "better to take the pain at that moment and to fight back after, rather than wait and risk a bigger penalty".

Speaking to F1 TV after the race, Verstappen explained the clash was just the nature of the track and, after the team decision, he just tried to do his race.

One further question put to Mekies was around the fact that Hamilton retired from the Grand Prix shortly after the decision was made for the place to be returned. However, the Red Bull boss insisted that, if they had waited, a bigger punishment could have been coming.

"We would have simply been penalized either five seconds or ten seconds at their discretion," he told F1 TV. "So that’s what would have happened. And of course, if you can imagine race scenarios with a Safety Car or other circumstances, it can cost you a lot more than a position or two."

He also went on to explain that he knew Verstappen would fight back and highlighted that he did so exceptionally well at the Madring.

"Luckily Max gave away the position before Lewis retired and ultimately continued to fight the race from that point," he continued. "Of course it is frustrating but, in fairness, I think P2 was the absolute best we could have achieved today."

Second place in the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring track leaves Verstappen sixth in the Drivers' Championship standings, with 145 points. P6 at Madrid for stand-in team mate Liam Lawson also sees Red Bull head to the next race weekend in Baku fourth in the Constructors' Championship.