George Russell will start Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix from pole position after Max Verstappen was penalized one place for obstructing the Briton in qualifying.
As they prepared for their final flying laps at the end of qualifying, Red Bull’s Verstappen caught Russell by surprise when he slowed in the third segment, forcing the Mercedes driver to take a late evasive action that forced him onto the curb and gravel.
Russell was on provisional pole until the final runs and said after the session that the incident “maybe” was because he was unable to improve on his first effort.
Verstappen was called to the stewards for an alleged offense of “unnecessarily slow driving” and Russell was also invited to give his version of events before the decision was finally announced more than three hours after the session ended.
The penalty for such an offense would normally be a three-place grid penalty, but stewards said the fact that Russell was clearly visible to Verstappen and that neither driver was on the push lap resulted in a less severe penalty.
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Important events of Qatar Grand Prix qualification.
Verstappen also received one penalty point on his FIA Super Licence, which takes him halfway to the 12-point threshold for a year which, if breached, results in a one-race ban.
While the decision boosts Russell’s chances of claiming a back-to-back victory after last week’s victory in Las Vegas, it is unlikely to cause much of a stir as Verstappen has already sealed his fourth consecutive drivers’ title.
Stewards decision in full
The stewards heard from the driver of Car 1 (Max Verstappen), the driver of 63 (George Russell), team representatives and checked the positioning/marshalting system data, video, timer, telemetry, team radio and in-car video.
Car 1 had a different preparation tactic than 63. Car 1 was outside the delta and the driver of car 1 explained that he left cars 4 and 14.
The driver of Car 63 claimed that he stuck to the delta and did not expect Car 1 to be in the race lane. He stated that if the car was going slow in the high speed corner, it should not be in the race lane.
The stewards consider this a difficult case as Car 1 clearly did not comply with the race director’s notes of events and was clearly driving, in our judgment, unnecessarily slowly in the circumstances.
It was obvious that the driver of car 1 was trying to cool the tires. He could also see the No. 63 car approaching when he looked in his mirror several times while on the small straight between turns 11 and 12.
Unusually, this incident occurred when neither car was on a push lap. Had car 63 been on a push lap, the penalty would likely have been the usual 3rd position penalty, but to mitigate the penalty it was obvious, that the driver of car 63 was clearly visible to car 1 and that no car was involved in the push lap;
What did the drivers say?
Both drivers addressed the interview during post-session interviews with Sky Sports F1 before meeting the stewards.
George Russell on Sky Sports F1.
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George Russell was frustrated with Max Verstappen after the pair nearly crashed during qualifying in Qatar.
“When you’re preparing for your lap and you end up going through the gravel at two corners before the start of the lap, it’s not ideal preparation.
“There was no reason not to improve and I went three tenths slower.
“We have this delta on the steering wheel that we have to monitor and that’s done to stop the cars going too slowly around the circuit to avoid high-to-low speed incidents.
“He was obviously going too slow. I was following the rules and almost crashed.
“Honestly, I’d be surprised if anything happened, but it was a bit of a shame to finish like that because I felt in a really big groove.”
Max Verstappen on Sky Sports F1.
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen reflects on his crash with George Russell during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix.
“I’m not there to piss people off because if I follow my delta I’ll hit two other cars and I think I’m at the stage in the championship where I don’t have to argue with other drivers.
“So whatever, I’m just watching the guys in front of me, trying to sort myself out.
“At the same time, I think George had different plans. He wanted to warm up his tires a little more. So of course he wanted to pass me.
“That’s what we have in these delta times, one tries to stick to it, the other backs up because he sees the two cars in front of him that he doesn’t want to upset either, because otherwise they’ll be fighting to get their tires ready are in the region.
“So it’s just a bit of an unfortunate situation, I would call it.”
Sky Sports F1 live Qatar GP schedule
Sunday December 1
10.55: Second F1 Academy race
12.15: F2 feature race
14.30. Grand Prix Sunday. Qatar GP Rally
16:00 Qatar Grand Prix
18:00. Checkered flag. Qatar GP reaction
19:00: Ted’s notebook
Formula 1’s season-ending triple whammy continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW
