While I agree that it seemed too lenient, I think there are multiple factors one need to consider
Ok, if there wasn't a chance to get in front of the safety car, then that was the race right there with that first exchange of pitstops.
No way, the soft was at least few seconds quicker than other tyres. All practice sessions showed this. He should have stayed out which would have got him the jump and by 10 laps he would have 20 seconds gap to Hamilton who was slower than the Williams.damager21 wrote: ↑26 May 2019, 17:33On the contrary, I feel they should have pitted him a lap before when there was uncertainty about Safety car. Max would have managed to under cut and come out ahead of Lewis. Even if Lewis did not pit, Max would have closed the gap and piped Lewis whenever he pitted. Its all about position on this track as Lewis showed today
Max Verstappen spent all of his second stint driving in his ‘start’ throttle map because he forgot to deactivate it after his pit stop.
The mode is used to optimise the car’s performance from a standing start at the beginning of the race or pit stops. Drivers usually switch back to a race mode when they return to the track.
“In the pit stop we forgot to go back on the torque map so I had my start map in it which was not ideal,” Verstappen explained.
“I had massive lag on the first couple – I can’t say the exact number – but quite a lot of percentage going on throttle. I had nothing, and then suddenly the power kicked in. It was not nice to drive. But I managed to drive around the problem.”
Verstappen forgot to deactivate his after his pit stop as he and the team were distracted by his collision with Valtteri Bottas in the pit lane.
“Normally I would go back on it but of course with the clutch and then looking in the mirror all the time, and the team was also a little bit shocked with the whole thing, they were also checking damaged. Normally they always remind me but anyway it’s always my job to still do it, but I also forgot with all the hectic scenarios.
Drivers cannot deactivate the mode once they are at racing speeds, and Verstappen didn’t return to the pits for the rest of the race.
Because he was clearly the fastest on track? Monaco being Monaco, the same complaints any overtake is a risk (see Leclerc) and he couldn't get by without risking the entire race and also knowingly with that penalty. He kept constant pressure on Hamilton with no let up. For him to not even get a podium feels wrong. Vettel just sort of fell into 2nd.
Ohhhh -- good thinking! A lost opportunity for a win, indeed. With your scenario, Max would have won easily. Shame.
Bingo!