Leclerc benefits: Verstappen loses Mexico pole after penalty

After a hearing, the race stewards demoted the Red Bull driver by three starting positions because he had achieved the best time under the yellow flag. Formula 1 rules state that drivers must significantly ease off the accelerator at this signal. Verstappen also receives two penalty points.

This means that Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start the 18th race of the season from first place, while his teammate Sebastian Vettel will move up to the front row of the grid. This means that Ferrari will start a race from pole position for the sixth time in a row.

After the accident involving Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas (Finland), Verstappen once again improved his best time in qualifying under the yellow flag. The stewards based their judgment on video, audio and telemetry data. They also compared Verstappen's behavior with that of other pilots in this situation.

Charles Leclerc is the new pole setter. © AP / Rebecca Blackwell

“The race stewards noted from the images on board car 33 that the waving yellow flag was clearly visible and displayed with sufficient attention. The preceding car 5 (Vettel's Ferrari; editor) significantly reduced the speed in accordance with the regulations," said the reasoning. Verstappen admits offense Verstappen himself said at the press conference immediately after qualifying: "I was aware that Valtteri had crashed." When asked whether he had taken his foot off the accelerator, Verstappen replied briefly: "It didn't look like it, did it?" He added succinctly : “They will cancel my lap time, but the other lap was good too.” This would actually have been enough for first place on the grid.

World champion Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes moved up to third place on the grid as a result of Verstappen's penalty; he is fighting to win the title early in Mexico. The Englishman is 64 World Cup points ahead of his only remaining championship opponent Bottas.

In order to take the crown for the sixth time on Sunday, Hamilton has to score 14 points more than the Finn, who took sixth place on the grid. Team boss Toto Wolff explained that Bottas would be allowed “90 percent” to remain without a penalty, but he did not want to completely rule out replacing relevant parts on Saturday evening.

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Leclerc benefits: Verstappen loses Mexico pole after penalty

Dutchman Max Verstappen lost pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday at the Green Table.

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