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.

An eagle-eyed Max Verstappen alerted his Red Bull team to the possibility that Lando Norris did not slow for yellow flags during the Qatar Grand Prix. It resulted in the McLaren driver being hit with a massive 10-second stop-go penalty by the FIA stewards at the Lusail International Circuit.

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.