Verstappen Keeps Singapore Sprint Pole After Yellow Flag Review

Max Verstappen will retain pole position for the Singapore Sprint race after Formula 1 stewards reviewed his overtake on Lewis Hamilton during Sprint Qualifying. The Red Bull driver passed the Ferrari rival under yellow flags triggered by Sergio Perez's Cadillac hitting the barriers, but officials decided the circumstances did not justify a penalty.

The incident occurred during the opening SQ1 phase, when a single yellow flag was displayed as Verstappen exited Turn 7. Hamilton was ahead of the Red Bull driver, and both cars remained in the yellow flag sector when Verstappen passed him before Turn 8.

Hamilton immediately alerted his team over the radio about the maneuver.

"Max overtook me under yellow flags," Hamilton reported.

Verstappen said he believed the pass had occurred before the yellow flag but indicated he was prepared to let Hamilton back ahead to avoid any potential issue.

"I'll let Lewis by again. I think I passed him before the yellow, but I just want to be safe," Verstappen said.

Following a post-session investigation, the stewards confirmed that Verstappen had breached the yellow flag regulations. However, they concluded that the overtake resulted from a significant speed difference between the two cars and did not impose a penalty.

According to the stewards' decision document, Hamilton had slowed and moved to the right after Turn 7 to stay clear of the racing line. He was braking and traveling at less than 60 km/h when Verstappen passed him.

Telemetry confirmed that Verstappen lifted fully off the throttle within approximately 40 meters of entering the yellow flag sector. The stewards also found that his speed at the overtaking point was about 70 km/h lower than his speed on another push lap during the same session.

The officials accepted that Verstappen had responded appropriately by lifting off the throttle and reducing speed after seeing the yellow flag. They also noted his explanation that heavy braking to avoid passing Hamilton could have 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 circumstances, determined not to impose a penalty," the decision document stated.

Verstappen had secured pole position before the investigation concluded. The result followed an encouraging Sprint Qualifying performance in which he said the Red Bull RB22 had improved on soft tires during SQ3.

Speaking before the stewards announced their decision, Verstappen described the demanding conditions at the Singapore circuit and expressed satisfaction with his qualifying performance.

"It's always close here in Singapore. Also your lap itself. You're pushing as hard as you think is possible, close to the walls in places," Verstappen said.

He added that the car's performance improved when the team fitted soft tires for the final qualifying phase, although he had not expected to secure the top position.

"For sure, once we bolted on the soft tyres [in SQ3], it felt like the car was coming alive a little bit more, but I did not expect this. Of course, [I'm] very happy to be first," Verstappen said.

Verstappen also acknowledged that the circuit continued to expose weaknesses in the car, despite stronger performances in recent races. He said the team had managed those limitations effectively during the session.

"I think in the last few races we've been a lot stronger. This track still highlights a few little weaknesses in the car, but we managed to drive with them as well as possible," Verstappen said.