01/09/2016
NEWS STORY
While the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza has certain echoes of Circus Maximus, particularly when you consider the original layout, the tifosi is not quite as threatening as the baying mob that cheered on the charioteers over two thousand years ago.
And continuing the Roman theme, there will be times this weekend when young Max Verstappen might well feel he has entered the lion's den, especially in wake of last week's race in Belgium.
However, the youngster is unrepentant, and insists that despite the calls for him to be 'taken to one side', he has no intention of changing his approach to his racing.
"For me, Spa is done," he told (a baying pack of) reporters as the Monza weekend got underway. "In general it was a great weekend, I enjoyed it a lot, especially to see so many fans to come to the track, with their orange colours. It was amazing to see.
"What happened in the race, that can happen sometimes," he continued, "but I just focus ahead on Monza.
"It was all pretty clear. Like I said, I don't like to stay in the past and what happened there. I just focus ahead and I try to push again and just do my thing, and show my driving style like it was before."
At a time the Ferrari duo are to meet privately with Charlie Whiting to discuss matters arising from last weekend, Verstappen was clearly unrepentant.
"There were no penalties given so there was no reason to change something," he said, referring to last weekend's race and its numerous incidents.
"You have to see it like this," he explained. "Let's say you put Zlatan Ibrahimovic in terms of attacking you, you put him up as a defender. Would he like it just because other people think he is a better defender? I don't think he will listen to those guys. If he likes to attack he wants to attack. It is not because other drivers tell me I have to change my driving style that I will change my driving style."
Having previously said the Ferrari duo should be "ashamed" of their actions at the first corner last week, and then admitted that his moves on Raikkonen were the result of the incident, he now appeared to be a little bit more philosophical about that particular incident.
"When you are in the car it is very difficult to see of course," he said. "When you look at the videos again it was all pretty clear. It happens sometimes in the race and the stewards didn't give any penalty to any one of us, so that is fine.
"I think we all learned from it," he added, at a time, elsewhere in the paddock Vettel was taking responsibility for the clash. "Even when you are a very experienced driver you can still learn so definitely we just focus ahead to Monza."