Max Verstappen receives grid penalty for impeding George Russell in Qatar qualifying
Max Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty for impeding George Russell during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix. This penalty allowed Russell to start in pole position, while Verstappen qualified first but was later frustrated by the incident. After the qualifying session, Verstappen expressed anger towards Russell, stating he lost all respect for him. He accused Russell of trying to force a penalty and described the situation as disappointing and surprising. Despite the controversy, Verstappen won the race, while Russell finished fourth after a slow pit stop. Tensions between the two drivers continued, with Verstappen reportedly confronting Russell during the pre-race parade.