In a jaw-dropping twist at the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, the newly crowned four-time Formula 1 world champion, was stripped of pole position due to a series of astonishing errors during qualifying, handing the top spot to Mercedes’ George Russell. The dramatic turn of events at the Lusail International Circuit left fans, teams, and drivers reeling, as what seemed like a triumphant return to pole for Verstappen unraveled into one of the most shocking moments of the 2024 season. Russell, who had been a mere 0.055 seconds behind, seized the No. 1 grid position, setting the stage for an electrifying race.

Verstappen’s qualifying performance initially appeared to be a masterclass in redemption. After struggling earlier in the weekend—finishing eighth in the sprint race following a lackluster sixth in sprint qualifying—the Red Bull driver and his team made significant setup changes that transformed their car into a pole contender. His final lap of 1:20.520 in Q3 edged out Russell, marking his first pole since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. “Crazy! I didn’t expect this,” Verstappen exclaimed post-session, crediting his team for the turnaround. The paddock buzzed with admiration for Red Bull’s resilience—until the stewards intervened.

The controversy erupted over an incident in the final stages of qualifying. As Verstappen prepared for his pole-securing lap, he drove unusually slowly on a cooldown lap through Turn 12, adhering to a tire-cooling strategy. Meanwhile, Russell, also on a preparation lap but at a higher speed, came up behind him and was forced to take evasive action, veering into the gravel to avoid a collision. Over the radio, Russell called it “super dangerous,” and though he wasn’t on a flying lap, he later suggested the disruption might have affected his tire preparation for his final run. The stewards launched an investigation into Verstappen for “driving unnecessarily slowly,” a breach of Article 33.4 of the sporting regulations.

After hours of deliberation, the verdict dropped like a bombshell: Verstappen was handed a rare one-place grid penalty. The stewards acknowledged the complexity of the situation—neither driver was on a push lap, and Russell had visibility of Verstappen—but ruled that the Red Bull driver had exceeded the maximum lap time delta set by the race director. “Car 1 was well outside the delta,” the statement read, emphasizing that Verstappen’s position on the racing line in a high-speed corner was unjustifiable. The penalty stripped him of pole, promoting Russell to P1 and relegating Verstappen to second on the grid.

The decision sparked outrage and disbelief. Verstappen, who went on to win the race despite the setback, later vented his frustration, accusing Russell of exaggerating the incident and claiming he’d “lost all respect” for his rival. Red Bull’s Christian Horner called it “hysterical gamesmanship” from Mercedes. Meanwhile, Russell embraced the unexpected gift, eyeing back-to-back wins after his Las Vegas triumph. The Qatar Grand Prix grid was set alight with tension, proving once again that in Formula 1, fortunes can shift in an instant—and even champions aren’t immune to shocking twists.