Verstappen faces stewards' probe for overtaking Hamilton under yellow flags in Singapore SQ1

Max Verstappen is under investigation after sprint qualifying SQ1 at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, with stewards examining whether the Red Bull driver illegally overtook Lewis Hamilton in a yellow flag zone at Marina Bay.

The yellow flags were triggered when Sergio Perez lost control and drove straight into the Turn 5 barrier, breaking his front wing on his Cadillac. The incident later escalated into a red flag that halted the opening sprint qualifying session.

Despite the controversy, Verstappen went on to top SQ1 with a 1m33.477s on medium tyres — the fastest time by just 0.018 seconds over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Hamilton, the driver Verstappen is alleged to have passed illegally, finished fourth, 0.271s off the pace.

Perez, running for Cadillac, was eliminated from sprint qualifying after posting a 1m36.760s, leaving him 20th and last — a difficult session for the Mexican driver who has had a turbulent season since departing Red Bull.

The outcome of the stewards’ investigation could yet alter the SQ1 classification. A penalty for a yellow flag infringement typically results in a lap time deletion, which would drop Verstappen from the top of the timesheets and potentially affect his sprint qualifying progression.

Further details of the investigation are expected to be confirmed by the FIA stewards in due course.