Max Verstappen avoids punishment for Singapore yellow flag infringment

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has avoided punishment after the stewards deemed ‘no penalty applied’ after hearing from both drivers at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool

Verstappen found himself under investigation during sprint qualifying of the Singapore Grand Prix, after it was found he had overtook Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags and the stewards have delivered their verdict of no further action.

During SQ1, Cadillac’s Sergio Perez had hit the barrier, damaging his front wing and car nose. As he tried to limp back to the pits, the front wing got underneath his car and a chunk broke off, prompting a yellow flag into turn eight.

Despite being found to have overtaken another car, the stewards deemed no penalty would be given to the four-time world champion, as a result of the closing speed differential of the two parties.

In the hearing, it was explained that Verstappen – who was on a push lap – had seen the yellow flag and lifted, which was confirmed by telemetry and within 40 metres of entering the zone, he had completely lifted. Hamilton, on the other hand, had reduced his speed to less than 60kp/h, and was braking, at the point Verstappen overtook him.

As a result of these difference speeds, the stewards deemed it to be significant.

Max Verstappen at risk of Singapore Sprint penalty for yellow flags

In their report, the stewards said:

“As Car 3 was exiting turn 7 on a push lap, a single yellow flag was displayed. Car 44 was ahead of Car 3 and had been warned of Car 3’s approach. The Driver of Car 44 said that after exiting turn 7, he slowed and moved to the right to ensure he was off the racing line. Car 3 overtook Car 44 prior to turn 8 while both cars were still in the yellow flag sector. Car 3 then abandoned the push lap.

“The Driver of Car 3 explained that he was on throttle exiting turn 7 and then saw the yellow flag and lifted. This was confirmed by telemetry. Within approximately 40 metres of entering the yellow flag sector, the Driver of Car 3 had lifted fully off throttle.

“The Driver of Car 44 was braking and had reduced speed to less than 60km/h at the point Car 3 overtook. Because Car 3 was on a push lap and was on throttle out of turn 7 and Car 44 had slowed, the speed differential at the point of the overlap was significant despite the fact that the Driver of Car 3 had also started braking.

“The Stewards were satisfied that the Driver of Car 3 reacted appropriately to the yellow flag by lifting off throttle and reducing speed. The speed of Car 3 at the overtake point was some 70km/h less than Car 3’s speed on another push lap in the same session.

“The Driver of Car 3 explained that to have avoided the overtake would have required him to have braked very heavily and he considered to have done so would have potentially created an unsafe situation.

“The Stewards determined that the Driver of Car 3 breached the yellow flag regulation by overtaking Car 44. However, the Stewards were satisfied that the overtake was an unfortunate consequence of the significant closing speed differential and, in these The Stewards circumstances, determined not to impose a penalty.”

Max Verstappen claims sprint pole for Singapore Grand Prix ahead of George Russell

As a result, Verstappen will maintain his sprint pole position starting the Singapore GP sprint ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri starting right behind.

The sprint race will get underway at 5pm local time on Saturday.

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.