Despite a strong performance, Mercedes-AMG Petronas’ F1 Team’s George Russell was narrowly edged out for pole position by Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen in the final moments of the 2024 F1 Qatar GP qualifying.
In the closing stages of the third qualifying session, Russell set a provisional pole with a lap time of 1:20.575. However, four-time World Champion Verstappen quickly surpassed him with a stunning lap. Verstappen’s 1:20.520 lap time, the fastest of the session, meant Russell missed pole by just 0.055 seconds.
Russell to start Qatar GP race on pole after all
However, despite not outperforming Verstappen in the Qatar GP qualifying, Russell will start Sunday’s race from the front of the grid.
Verstappen in breach of Article 33.4
This comes after the stewards penalised Verstappen for driving unnecessarily slowly during his cool-down lap during the third qualifying session (Q3), violating Article 33.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.
Verstappen had been on a slow lap in the final stages of Q3 when the faster Russell approached him. Russell, like Verstappen, had been preparing for his final attempt at a flying lap. To avoid a collision, the Mercedes driver had to take evasive action. This resulted in him driving through the gravel trap, risking tyre damage. The matter was subsequently referred to the stewards for review.
“Complicated” case between Verstappen and Russell
As stated in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix Document 49, after the qualifying session, the stewards considered the available evidence and testimony from both Verstappen and Russell. While the stewards described the case as “complicated”, they stated that it was obvious that Verstappen had failed to comply with the Race Director’s Event Notes. They stated that, by their determination, Verstappen had been outside the delta time, and therefore, had been driving unnecessarily slowly.
However, the stewards also acknowledged that neither Verstappen nor Russell had been on a push lap and that Russell had had clear visibility of Verstappen. Due to this, they opted to hand Verstappen a one-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. The stewards also added one penalty point to Verstappen’s super licence, bringing his total to six for the 12-month period.
Subsequently, Verstappen will start the Qatar GP race from P2, with Russell now promoted to P1.
Russell in “a groove” after Qatar GP qualifying
After the qualifying session, Russell told the media that he was disappointed to have missed the top spot. However, he stated that Mercedes had been in great form over the recent races, noting their front-row starting positions at the previous four.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s been a great run so far. The last four qualifyings we’ve been on the front row every one, which I don’t think we could have dreamt of a few races ago, so feeling in such a groove at the moment, feeling really great.”
He described his first lap as “one of the best” that he had ever done but admitted that he had been unable to find the additional pace needed to beat Verstappen on his final lap.
“My first lap was one of the best I’ve ever done. And then, for whatever reason, just couldn’t find that extra bit of time on the last lap, and Max pipped me.”
When asked if he knew where he had lost time on his final lap, the Mercedes driver replied, “No, not really.”
“To be honest, my first lap was really strong. I was really pleased with that. I think it was a couple of tenths clear. And then I just didn’t improve on that last lap.”
“Scrappy” last lap after “near-collision” with Verstappen
However, Russell suggested that his “near collision” with Verstappen had resulted in a “scrappy” last lap. He speculated that the gravel trip might have cost him the 0.055 seconds that allowed Verstappen to take pole.
“I mean, I ended up going through the gravel. All over the floor, through the floor. So it felt like the floor was scraping over that kerb and through the gravel. So I hope it didn’t damage it.”
“Maybe that’s the reason why we didn’t improve. I don’t know. But it was a bit of a hairy one, two corners before we start the lap.”
“Obviously, I had a really scrappy out lap with the near collision with Max, and I ended up going through the gravel two corners prior to opening my lap. So it was not a good start. So that was probably the 55 milliseconds.”
“We were told to follow the delta”
During the FIA post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen claimed that he had been driving slowly to create a gap. He added that he believed that Russell had “got excited” and had tried to pass. Russell, however, defended himself. He explained that he had been following the delta time as stated in the Race Director’s Event Notes.
“I was following my delta, so it was, yeah.”
When Verstappen suggested that he “just drive straight through” in the future, Russell replied that he would not. This, he stated, was to avoid being penalised.
“I didn’t want to get penalised because we’re told to follow the delta, so…”
Russell just “taking the positives”
However, Russell claimed that he wanted to focus on the positives, highlighting the W15’s “great” performance in recent races.
“But just taking the positives, the car’s been so great the last two weekends, and just enjoying it while we can.”
While he acknowledged that the results of the São Paulo GP were “circumstantial” due to the difficult weather conditions, he claimed that the results of the Las Vegas GP were representatives of the W15’s potential.
“Yeah, I mean, these have been three really great races for us. I think Brazil, a little bit circumstantial with the wet qualifying on the Sunday morning. But the pace last week in Vegas was true.”
“Well, I think these last two races, the circuits have played in our favour.”
“We know when we can get the car low and stiff on a smooth track, it works pretty well. Brazil, we didn’t actually have the pace. You know, we were very slow in the Sprint, in the Sprint qualifying, but of course it was a wet qualifying on the Sunday morning, so that evened things out a little bit.”
“So I think we flattered ourselves a bit in Brazil, but these last two races, when we really, analyse it, I don’t think it’s a surprise. The car is performing as well as it has shown.”
“It’s great to be in this groove at the moment, four front row starts in a row, which has been really pleasing considering where we were three or four races ago. And the race pace this morning looked great.”
“The pace here this weekend is real as well, but it’s so close out there. But it just is nice to be in the mix at the front once again.”
Russell hoping for a Qatar GP “proper race”
While Russell praised Verstappen and Red Bull for improving their performance after a disappointing Friday, he acknowledged that the W15’s strong pace would keep the team in contention.
“So Max did a great job. Red Bull seemed to turn it around a little bit since yesterday, but let’s see what tomorrow brings.”
He stated that he hoped that they would be able to have a good race with fierce but healthy competition between the drivers. He added that he believed that Verstappen’s improved performance, as well as that of McLaren, would ensure that.
“Yeah, I mean, just excited. Hopefully, we can have a proper race rather than this team orders stuff. So, no, it’s going to be a good race. I think we’ll all be going for it.”
“It’s actually great that Max is in the mix as well. I was really surprised at their turnaround because they looked really off the pace yesterday, off the pace this morning. And obviously, they were both in Q3 and Max on pole.” “So I think we’ve got a good race on our hands.”
“Every driver on the right-hand side made a poor start”
When asked whether his strong pace during the sprint race gave him hope for Sunday’s feature race, Russell indicated that it had, reiterating that he expected the race to be “exciting.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be exciting.”
However, he noted that starting on the right-hand side of the track had cost him the opportunity to put up a proper fight for victory.
“I mean, those inside starting positions were really tricky. I think every driver on the right-hand side made a poor start and that ultimately cost me the chance to fight with Lando.”
As Russell believed that he would be starting Sunday’s race from P2 at the time of his interview, he highlighted that he expected a “really close fight” between the drivers of the top four teams.
“Now, obviously, Max up front, I think it’s going to be a really close fight between, I mean, all four teams.”
“Ferrari looked on the same pace as Lando and myself this morning.”
“So, I mean, I hope it’s going to be a good one, but the tyres seem pretty resilient. Maybe we’ll see another DRS train, I don’t know.”
“A little bit unfair to have those circumstances”
However, when asked if he believed that starting on the right-hand side of the grid would prove disadvantageous during the race, Russell indicated that he believed that a “dirty” track would cause a big difference. He reiterated the poor starts from the drivers starting on that side of the grid during the sprint race, and added that he found the circumstances “unfair.”
“Excuse me. It’s probably about one and a half cars length difference from the inside all the way to turn one. We normally judge it based on distance in four seconds, and we think it’s probably about four metres different left to right.”
“It’s, yeah, I mean, it’s quite a big difference here.”
“I hope the guys tonight or the track can clean it a bit because it was pretty clear in the sprint that everyone on that right side made bad starts and that’s obviously a little bit unfair to have those circumstances.”
With Verstappen losing a position due to the penalty, Russell will no longer have to worry about starting on the “dirty” side of the grid.
