Max Verstappen’s penalty for “driving unnecessarily slowly” in Qatar Grand Prix qualifying denied him pole and made him understandably furious. George Russell was the driver who complained, because he believed Verstappen had blocked him and compromised the start of his final flying lap.

Sky F1 pundit Jenson Button says it is “shocking” that the FIA slapped Max Verstappen with a grid penalty at the Qatar Grand Prix. Seven days after sealing a fourth straight title in Las Vegas, Verstappen stormed to a ninth victory of the F1 2024 season on Sunday in Qatar.

Max Verstappen has been hit with a late penalty after qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA announced in an official statement. The Dutchman managed to claim his first pole position since Austria during Qatar Grand Prix qualifying, beating the Mercedes of George Russell by less than a tenth of a second.