Max Verstappen under investigation after Mexico qualifying controversy

Max Verstappen

Verstappen under investigation after Mexico qualifying controversy

He failed to slow down under yellow flags.

Matthew Scott

Saturday 26 October 2019 22:49 Updated: 00:52

Max Verstappen was summoned by the Mexican Grand Prix stewards after admitting he did not lift off when passing yellow flags brought out by Valtter Bottas crashing in qualifying.

Verstappen took pole position at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but may be at risk of losing P1 if he is found to have flouted rules.

Valtteri Bottas crashed at the last corner during his final flying lap to trigger the yellow flags, which curtailed the efforts of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

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However, Verstappen, behind the pair, improved his lap-time to a circuit-record 1:14.758 and confirmed in the post-session press conference that he was aware Bottas had crashed and did not lift off, despite his mini-sector time not improving.

The Dutchman was blase about the potential risks involved, saying: "I think we know what we're doing otherwise we wouldn't be driving an F1 car."

Verstappen was also found to have sped under yellow flags during qualifying at last year's Russian Grand Prix. He was given a three-place grid penalty for that infringement.