Verstappen explains refusal to slow down in final Monaco GP laps

Max Verstappen has explained why he would not slow down in the closing stages of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, despite having a gap of nearly 19 seconds to Fernando Alonso in P2.

The Red Bull driver looked to have victory sealed as the race reached its final laps but appeared to still be driving on the edge, having almost hit the barrier on one occasion.

Verstappen ultimately managed to avoid any incidents en route to taking his fourth win of the 2023 F1 season, yet his full-on approach in the latter stages of the event drew questions from some, including the Dutchman's own engineer.

Why Verstappen wouldn't slow down

When quizzed on why he would not slow down a little in the final laps of the race, Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.com: "My engineer was asking me the same thing, but it's more when you're on a rhythm, it's better to just stay in that.

"I think just one time out of 16 I clipped the barrier. I thought I had a bit more margin and then I just I touched it [and thought], 'Oh, okay, I didn't have the margin'. But it was fine.

"It's better to be in a rhythm and feel good than slowing down and then be a bit out of your zone, and then also your tyres get colder.

"It's not what you like, they were already quite cold. So it's just better, I think, to stay in that [rhythm] because I was not overdriving it or whatever. I was just in my own zone."