Max Verstappen expressed his surprise and disappointment after being stripped of pole position during the chaotic Qatar Grand Prix due to an incident involving George Russell.
The Formula 1 world champion felt unfairly targeted in the stewards’ decision following the qualifying session at the Losail International Circuit. “I was surprised and disappointed in the stewards’ room,” Verstappen stated, noting that it was unusual for competitors to push for such penalties.
Verstappen shared with reporters that he had intentionally slowed down during his qualifying lap as a courteous gesture, not intending to cause any disruption for Russell.
According to Verstappen, this incident has altered his perception of their previously amicable relationship. “I was just trying to be nice, and maybe that’s not how to be,” he reflected.
"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, 2024Russell had raised concerns about Verstappen’s conduct during qualifying, claiming it forced him to manoeuvre dangerously. This complaint led to an investigation, and ultimately, Verstappen lost his pole position, which instead went to Russell—his fifth career pole.
Read: Max Verstappen Clinches Fourth F1 World Title in Las Vegas
Despite this setback, Verstappen had a strong start in the race, leading to a resounding victory. His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, made a pointed remark during the cooldown lap, suggesting that the race outcome was a form of karma. Verstappen praised his team’s effort, celebrating their shared success.
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE QATAR GRAND PRIX!!
Expertly managed from the World Champion, who makes it two wins in three races! 👏👏#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/KqMPFWAcbw
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 1, 2024The weekend concluded positively for Verstappen and his team, who managed a significant comeback from an eighth-place finish in Saturday’s sprint race to win on Sunday. He lauded the race’s intensity and the competitive spirit between him and Lando Norris, enjoying the robust performance of their cars and the durable tyres.
Verstappen emphasized the team’s quick adaptation and resilience, which played a crucial role in their turnaround and subsequent victory, underlining his pride in their collective effort.
