In order to prevent big speed differentials between cars in qualifying, the race director at each event sets a maximum lap time delta that drivers must remain within, which Verstappen had exceeded. Neither driver was on their actual qualifying lap,

Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen has been handed a one-place grid penalty for impeding Mercedes driver George Russell during the Qualifying session for the Qatar Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver had initially achieved the fastest time at the Lusail International Circuit,