Max Verstappen has been handed a five-place grid penalty for failing to adhere to yellow flags during qualifying for Formula 1’s Qatar Grand Prix.
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly came to a halt off-line along the pit straight in the wake of damaging his front wing and front-right tyre when he clouted the Turn 15 exit kerb.
Verstappen continued on his final Q3 push lap and went past the stricken Gasly.
Double waved yellow flags were being waved by trackside though yellow flag notifications were not displayed on Verstappen’s steering wheel.
Verstappen was subsequently summoned to meet stewards on Sunday afternoon at Losail and handed a grid penalty.
Verstappen’s lap time was also deleted though his first Q3 push lap was still good enough for second.
It means he is set to start from seventh position.
Verstappen’s sanction, along with a demotion for Valtteri Bottas, means Gasly will start from the front row of the grid.
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso will start from third position.
![Carlos Sainz [on pit wall] was forced out of Ferrari in favour of Lewis Hamilton](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Carlos-Sainz-Ferrari-F1-350x250.webp)
![Carlos Sainz [on pit wall] was forced out of Ferrari in favour of Lewis Hamilton](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Carlos-Sainz-Ferrari-F1-360x180.webp)
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