Verstappen: I was brake-tested and had a hard crash

Teenage rookie Max Verstappen claims he crashed during the Monaco Grand Prix after being "brake-tested" by Romains Grosjean

The 17-year-old, whose formula one debut in 2015 has been controversial, was punished by the sport's governing body after crashing his Toro Rosso at high speed into the barriers at Sainte Devote.

Verstappen wrote on his official website on Wednesday that he is unhurt, "My neck is a bit stiff, but apart from that I am fine. It didn't hurt as much as expected."

The young Dutchman said he is now "ready to go again" at the wheel of his Toro Rosso, starting with the Canadian grand prix next weekend.

"It (Monaco) was an eventful race," Verstappen continued. "We had good pace and did some overtaking as well - in Monaco!

"After a pitstop, I was charging through the field when I was brake-tested and had a hard crash," he said, describing his contact with Lotus' Romain Grosjean.

'Brake-test' is a motor racing term for when a leading driver deliberately brakes early in order to deter the advances of a chasing car and a tactic often used by drivers to defend.

Brake-testing is aggressive and dangerous, but it was Verstappen who was penalised by the FIA, including a five-place grid demotion for Canada and two penalty points on his super licence.

Critics blasted teenager Verstappen's young age and inexperience after the frightening Ste Devote crash, and the FIA issued a five-place grid demotion for Canada and added two penalty points to his super licence.

Hakkinen, a two-time world champion, came out in support of Verstappen when he told Ilta Sanomat: "Grosjean was on a different line as in previous laps."

"He also drove at a different speed. I think if the Lotus had not changed its speed and trajectory, it is likely that the overtaking manoeuvre would have been completed successfully. In my opinion these penalties were incorrect," the Finn added. "

With a similar view is another former F1 driver, Dutchman Jan Lammers. He told De Telegraaf newspaper he does "not understand" the FIA's decision to penalise Verstappen.

"Anyone with any interest in Formula 1 should thank God for the arrival of Max," said Lammers. "Thanks to him, people are watching races again at the edges of their seats, and then with this penalty ... it makes me wonder what people want.

"It is not good reasoning to say it's because he is 17 and they want to give him a signal. I think going into that barrier was a clear enough signal," he insisted.