In Doha, Qatar, the FIA stewards recently made a decision regarding an incident involving drivers George Russell and Max Verstappen during the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session. After conducting a thorough investigation, the stewards considered testimony from both drivers and their team representatives, as well as analyzed various data such as telemetry, team radio communications, and onboard footage.

According to the official document released by the FIA, Russell expressed his belief that a car driving slowly in a high-speed corner should not be positioned on the racing line. Despite this assertion, the stewards deemed the situation to be complex and did not see fit to impose the typical three-place grid penalty since neither driver was on a competitive lap at the time of the incident.

The assessment stated that Car 1, driven by Russell, failed to adhere to the Race Director’s Event Notes and was observed driving at an unnecessarily slow pace given the circumstances. It was evident that the driver was trying to cool his tires, evidenced by his repeated glances in the rearview mirror to monitor the approaching Car 63 between Turns 11 and 12.

As a result of the stewards’ ruling, Verstappen will now occupy the second spot on the grid for the Qatar Grand Prix, with the pole position advantage shifting to the Mercedes driver for the upcoming 57-lap race. This decision has implications for both drivers and their respective teams as they strategize for the challenges that lie ahead on the Doha circuit.