Polesitter Verstappen under investigation after incident with Russell

Max Verstappen will visit the stewards after securing pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver possibly hindered George Russell by driving unnecessarily slowly before his fast lap in Q3. The Mercedes driver was in the hunt for pole position and finished less than a tenth behind the Dutchman.

Verstappen was ahead of Russell, entering his final fast lap. The Mercedes driver's effort was less than a tenth slower than that of the Dutchman's. Russell complained over the radio about the Red Bull driver, who he said was doing something very dangerous. Russell claimed that that moment may have caused him to lose time at the start of his final run. Rui Marques, Formula One's new race director, had the stewards look into the incident. They have opened an investigation, which means that both Verstappen and Russell will have to come forward to tell their side of the story. That moment is scheduled at 11:15 p.m. local time (8:15 p.m. GMT).