Verstappen keeps Singapore Sprint pole after FIA decision
Max Verstappen will keep pole for the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint after the stewards decided against penalising him for passing Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags during Sprint Qualifying.
The stewards reviewed telemetry and video before reaching their decision. They found that Verstappen had reacted to the yellow flag by lifting off the throttle and reducing speed, while also determining that the pass on Hamilton had occurred. No penalty was imposed, and Hamilton will start sixth.
Stewards cite closing speed in their decision
Verstappen told the stewards he was accelerating out of Turn 7 when he saw the yellow flag and lifted. The telemetry confirmed he was fully off the throttle within about 40 metres of entering the yellow-flag sector.
Hamilton, in Car 44, was braking and had slowed to below 60km/h when Verstappen passed. The stewards said the speed difference was significant because Verstappen had been on a push lap while Hamilton had slowed. Verstappen had also begun braking.
The panel noted that Verstappen’s speed at the passing point was around 70km/h lower than his speed on another push lap in the same session. It accepted his explanation that braking much harder to avoid passing Hamilton could have created an unsafe situation.
Verstappen retains pole with no penalty
The stewards said Verstappen responded appropriately by lifting and reducing speed. They also concluded that he had overtaken Hamilton under yellow flags, but treated the pass as an unfortunate result of the closing-speed difference and chose not to impose a penalty. Their review found no breach of Appendix H, Article 2.5.5b of the FIA International Sporting Code.
The outcome leaves Verstappen on Sprint pole, with Hamilton sixth on the grid. F1LivePulse has more Singapore coverage in its circuit map guide and Singapore qualifying report.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.