I still don't think Max had any justifiable reason even if Checo did something untoward in Monaco. Max is the captain of the ship. It is his duty to make decisions to ensure that there is no mutiny. Why wouldn't you throw Checo a bone so he can continue to work in your favor. That's what a clever, cunning, WDC driver does. Make the 4D chess moves to continue to curry favor with everyone around him that can support his championship charge.
Max has gone and made a mess of it. The relationship is fractured. As I said before. Max will have to outright sabotage Leclerc's race in Abu Dhabi at the expense of his own, to have any hope of things with Checo going back to the way there were and to not get boo'd out of town in Mexico city.