Just In: FIA announce Verstappen DEMOTION in SHOCK Q…read more
FIA announce Verstappen DEMOTION in SHOCK Q…read more
Max Verstappen has been demoted in a surprising turn of events at the Qatar Grand Prix after being hit with a late penalty by the FIA following qualifying. The Dutch driver had secured his first pole position since the Austrian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Mercedes’ George Russell by less than a tenth of a second. This strong qualifying result kept Red Bull’s slim hopes alive for a third consecutive Constructors’ Championship title, though they are still 67 points behind leaders McLaren with only two races remaining.
However, an incident during Q3 between Verstappen and Russell caught the attention of the stewards. The two drivers were summoned to the stewards’ room, where Verstappen was investigated for allegedly driving too slowly and breaking the minimum lap time requirement set by the race director at the start of the weekend. The minimum lap time is designed to prevent drivers from backing up the field during qualifying and jostling for position.
As the two drivers were preparing for their laps, Russell was looking to get a clean run ahead of his hot lap when Verstappen seemed to block him. Russell had to take evasive action, and he voiced his displeasure over team radio. The stewards reviewed multiple sources of evidence, including positioning data, video footage, team radio, and telemetry, before arriving at their decision.
According to the FIA’s ruling, Verstappen’s actions were deemed in violation of the race director’s event notes. While Verstappen explained that he had let two other cars past, he was still found to have driven unnecessarily slowly, especially considering the circumstances. The stewards noted that Verstappen was likely attempting to cool his tires but acknowledged that he had clear visibility of Russell approaching in his mirrors. They also pointed out that both drivers were not on a push lap at the time, which made the situation more complex. Had Russell been on a hot lap, the penalty would have likely been more severe, potentially a three-place grid drop.
In their final judgment, the stewards ruled that Verstappen’s pole position was to be forfeited, and George Russell was promoted to the top spot. This demotion marks a significant twist for Verstappen, who had been poised to extend his winning streak, having already secured his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship at the Las Vegas GP earlier in the season. The penalty also casts a shadow over Red Bull’s chances of securing a third straight Constructors’ Championship, with their focus now turning to the final two races of the 2024 season.
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