Official: Max Verstappen penalized, George Russell on pole

The images were quite clear: Max Verstappen was driving slowly on the inside line while George Russell was approaching at full speed behind him and had to avoid the Red Bull by going through the gravel. The only question mark was that both drivers were on an out lap and not on a flying lap.

After qualifying, the Dutchman did not seem particularly worried about a possible sanction: « There were two spaces in front of me, which were also trying to create a gap. So I had to create a gap too. I knew everyone was on a slow lap, not an attacking lap. And then George got excited. He wanted to overtake and pass alongside. It was fine, I mean everyone is trying to position themselves as best as possible to start the lap. »

However, the stewards have decided to hear from the Red Bull driver and deemed that he had impeded his rival of the day. However, the FIA stewards once again innovated with their penalties: instead of penalizing him by three grid places as usual, they decided to only sanction him by one place. This means that the pole position goes to George Russell, but the Red Bull driver retains the second place he had secured during his first attempt.

The British driver therefore officially signs his second consecutive pole position, after the one obtained in the streets of Las Vegas. While the team with the star had major difficulties at the beginning of the season, the turnaround brings a smile to the driver with the number 63, even before the announcement granting him the fifth pole position of his career: “It feels really good. My first lap was one of the best I’ve ever done. Then, we didn’t manage to find that little extra something on the last lap and Max passed me. I only remember the positive. The car has been great these past two weekends and I’m enjoying it while it lasts.”

His mechanics may have additional work to do as the Mercedes pilot’s excursion may have caused damage to the bottom of his single-seater.