Max Verstappen loses Qatar GP pole after qualifying penalty

Max Verstappen has lost his pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix after being penalized for driving too slowly during qualifying. The stewards ruled he obstructed George Russell, who now starts in pole position. Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty and an additional penalty point on his racing license. The stewards noted that Verstappen was not following the race director's guidelines and was attempting to cool his tires while Russell was approaching. Before the penalty, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his car's performance during qualifying, having previously struggled in the sprint race. He had been optimistic about his chances for the main event.