With the driver’s title already wrapped up, all eyes turned to the constructors’ championship in Qatar. However, the race weekend was littered with many penalties and controversy. One of the penalties dished out to Max Verstappen for impeding George Russell left the Dutchman fuming.
Verstappen was handed a one-place grid penalty for the main race, leaving George Russell on pole. The newly crowned four-time world champion was adjudged to have impeded Russell, leaving Verstappen reeling. Although Max took the lead, the Red Bull driver didn’t hold back post-race.
Max Verstappen angry after Qatar penalty pushed by George Russell
The race stewards summoned George Russell and Max Verstappen after qualifying. After the meeting, Max was handed the one-placed grid penalty, handing Russell the pole position. According to Sky Sports, Verstappen confronted Russell during the driver’s parade. The Dutchman didn’t hold back after the race either.
Speaking to the media, Verstappen spoke about Russell’s role in him receiving the penalty. He said: “Honestly, [it was] very disappointing because I think we’re all here. We respect each other a lot, of course. I’ve been in that meeting room many times in my life, in my career, with people that I’ve raced and I’ve never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. And that for me, I lost all respect.”
Max Verstappen on George Russell in the post-race press conference:
“I’ve been in the meeting room (stewards) many times, and I’ve never seen someone screw someone over that hard, and that for me, I lost all the respect.”#F1 #QatarGP
pic.twitter.com/MXx7BqXgF9— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) December 1, 2024
As the race played out, Russell got a poor start from pole position, losing two places to Verstappen and Lando Norris’s McLaren. Verstappen would go on to win the race, while Russell only managed fourth after a botched pit stop and a penalty for a safety car infringement.
Why did Max Verstappen get the grid penalty?
Verstappen was investigated for “driving unnecessarily slow” as drivers, including Russell, were preparing to begin their hot laps. After meeting with both drivers, the stewards decided Max had impeded Russell and gave the Dutchman a rarely seen one-place grid penalty.
The decision left Verstappen confused, as he said: “I couldn’t believe that I got it. I think that’s the first time that in a slow lap someone has been penalised, while, actually, I just tried to be nice. I didn’t want to screw anyone over to prepare their lap. And by doing that, being nice, basically you get a penalty.”
“It felt like I was talking to a brick wall” 🧱
“For me I lost all respect” ❌
Max Verstappen on the fallout from his one-place grid penalty that cost him pole for the Qatar GP pic.twitter.com/MNCIAj8kbv
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) December 1, 2024
Verstappen was only handed a one-place penalty as he didn’t impede anyone on a flying lap. That usually receives a three-place grid drop. However, as the offence was less severe, the punishment would have been too harsh.
