DOHA —
Max Verstappen has been handed a five-place
grid penalty for Sunday's
Qatar Grand Prix and will start the race from
seventh, with his Formula One world title rival
Lewis Hamilton on pole
position.
اضافة اعلان
The Dutchman, who leads Hamilton by 14 points in the
standings with three races remaining in the season, has been penalized for
"not respecting" double waved yellow flags during qualifying.
Verstappen had qualified in second originally, but will be
replaced on the front row by
Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly.
Hamilton's Mercedes teammate
Valtteri Bottas was also
slapped with a three-place grid penalty and will start from sixth.
The Finn was penalized for "not slowing down" under
yellow flags during Saturday's third qualifying session, which Hamilton
dominated.
The news is a major blow to Verstappen's hopes of a maiden
world championship crown and gives Hamilton a boost in his bid for a
record-breaking eighth title.
Two-time world champion
Fernando Alonso has been promoted
from fifth to third on the grid, with McLaren's Lando Norris joining the
veteran Spaniard on the second row.
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