F1 GP Qatar, Verstappen penalized: downhill road for Hamilton

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was penalized by 5 positions on the starting grid of the Qatar GP. The Dutchman was sanctioned for not respecting the yellow flags regime in the final qualifying session on Saturday, so he will start from seventh position. Verstappen, leader of the World Championship with 14 points clear of Lewis Hamilton, will therefore start very far from the British driver of Mercedes who will start from pole position. In addition to Verstappen, Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas was also penalized by the race judges of the Qatar GP. The Finn was penalized three places on the starting grid for not slowing down under the yellow flags regime during Saturday’s qualifying. Bottas will start from sixth position.