Verstappen defends Russell's Austrian GP Pole despite his yellow flag concern
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated: 17:51, 02 Jul
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Max Verstappen has once again questioned the single yellow flag that emerged during Austria GP qualifying that allowed George Russell to sufficiently lift off the throttle but still complete his Pole Position lap - but the Dutchman admits he would have tried to do the same thing.
Austria GP qualifying was turned on its head once Verstappen went off at Turn 9. With Leclerc leading a provisional Ferrari front row, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli slowed down believing the grid was under double yellow flags following Verstappen's crash - ultimately qualifying P4.
Last up on a flyer was Russell, using all of his experience as the senior Mercedes man, the Briton was deemed to have lifted off the throttle sufficiently to secure Pole by two tenths on Leclerc - much to the shock of both Ferrari and the wider F1 world.
Following Qualifying, Verstappen slammed the decision to wave the single yellow flag after the crash as "crazy," while Antonelli adding he also did not understand why double yellows had not emerged, under which a driver is expected to reduce speed significantly and be prepared to stop.
Verstappen defends Russell's Pole Position, but raises concerns
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Photo: Race Pictures
Speaking during Thursday's media day, Verstappen had more to say on the incident, arguing that it should not have been possible for Russell to have finished his Pole lap, but nonetheless admitting he would have done the same as the Briton if he was in his position.
Verstappen told media, including GPblog: "I think, first of all, it should not have been a single yellow. At least a double yellow or a red, first of all.
"The driver then, of course, optimizes around it. I think that's fair play. I mean, I probably would have tried to do the same. That's just how it works. But it shouldn't even be allowed or be possible not to finish your lap like that. That's the main concern in all of this."
As for what can be done in the future with regard to similar incidents, Verstappen added: "I've had this discussion many times, where I've felt like drivers have been quite close, to play with that limit.
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"And I think we're still not really on top of those things - how much you have to slow down for the double yellow, for example. Because some slow down more than others, one is good, one is bad, it's a very tough subject."
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