George Russell will start Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix from pole position after Max Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for impeding the Brit during qualifying.
As they prepared for their final flying laps at the end of qualifying, Red Bull’s Verstappen caught Russell by surprise as he slowed in the third sector, leaving the Mercedes driver needing to take late evasive action that forced him onto the kerb and gravel.
Russell had been on provisional pole before the final runs, and said after the session that the incident was “maybe” the reason he was unable to improve sufficiently to stay ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen was called to the stewards for the alleged offence of “driving unnecessarily slowly”, with Russell also invited to give his version of events, before a decision was eventually communicated more than three hours after the end of the session.
While the ruling boosts Russell chances of claiming back-to-back victories following his win in Las Vegas last week, it is unlikely to cause major uproar given Verstappen has already sealed a fourth successive drivers’ title.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Qatar GP schedule
Sunday December 1
10.55am: F1 Academy Race Two
12.15pm: F2 Feature Race
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP reaction
7pm: Ted’s Notebook
Formula 1’s season-ending triple-header continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream with NOW
