Qatar Grand Prix: Verstappen summoned to the stewards

And here we go again for a ride in Losail! Max Verstappen was summoned to the stewards of the Qatar Grand Prix for failure to respect a double yellow flag at the very end of qualifying at Losail.

The rule regarding double yellow flags has recently changed to Formula 1 since this indication automatically results in the cancellation of all timers for the lap in question.

However, this does not exempt pilots from taking their foot off in the area concerned, here the one where Pierre Gasly was moving slowly with a front wing torn off after hitting the curbs too violently at turn 15.

However, it seems that Verstappen did not slow down in the sector in question since the Dutchman improved his score during his final attempt in Q3.

The cancellation of this time would not lead to any change in the ranking in absolute terms because his first attempt was good enough to grab the 1st row alongside his rival Lewis Hamilton, author of the pole with almost half a second in advance.

On the other hand, if it is proven, failure to slow down under a double yellow flag results in a step back on the grid, generally by 3 positions. Verstappen had already paid the price at the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix after taking pole on track, Hamilton also at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was summoned before the stewards at 13:00 p.m. on Sunday, Qatar time. After qualifying, Verstappen said he was unaware of the debris left by theAlpha Tauri injured Gasly, nor any warning.

In this new affair, which comes in a weekend already rich in tensions between Mercedes et Red Bull, the lobbying of our British colleagues for an investigation to be opened as soon as the images were published on social networks will not have escaped us.

Just a coincidence, probably.