Max Verstappen has claimed he would have been “investigated straight away” by the FIA stewards if he had not lifted for a yellow flag like Lando Norris in the Qatar Grand Prix. Seven days after wrapping up the F1 2024 World Championship in Las Vegas,

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.

The FIA has released a statement explaining a string of controversial decisions made by race control and the stewards at the Qatar Grand Prix. Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were among the drivers penalised throughout the weekend.