Verstappen keeps Singapore Sprint pole despite stewards’ yellow-flag breach finding

Max Verstappen keeps pole for Saturday’s Singapore Sprint after the stewards found that he overtook Lewis Hamilton under single yellow flags in Sprint Qualifying. They imposed no penalty.

The pass came before Turn 8, with both cars still in the yellow-flag sector, and breached Appendix H, Article 2.5.5b of the FIA International Sporting Code.

Verstappen explained that he was on the throttle as he exited Turn 7, then lifted when he saw the yellow flag; telemetry confirmed the lift. He was fully off the throttle within about 40 metres of entering the sector. Hamilton told the stewards he had slowed and moved right to get off the racing line.

Hamilton was braking and travelling at less than 60 km/h when Verstappen passed. Verstappen’s speed at the pass was some 70 km/h below his own speed on another push lap in the session. The stewards said he had reacted appropriately by lifting and slowing, and described the overtake as an unfortunate consequence of the significant closing-speed difference.