Verstappen Penalized, Loses Qatar Grand Prix Pole

Max Verstappen has been stripped of his pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix after receiving a one-place grid penalty for impeding Mercedes driver George Russell during qualifying. Verstappen initially secured the fastest time but was penalized for driving unnecessarily slowly, which caused Russell to veer off into the gravel at Turn 12. The FIA stewards reviewed various evidence, including telemetry and video footage, before determining that Verstappen's actions were in breach of F1 regulations. Russell, who was previously second, will now start from pole position, while Verstappen drops to second. The incident has sparked discussions on the implications of preparation strategies and racing lines in qualifying sessions. Both drivers expressed their views post-qualifying, with Russell labeling the incident as dangerous.