A staggering 17 drivers are under investigation at the Qatar Grand Prix for failing to follow the race director’s instructions regarding the maximum delta time.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are among the cohort of drivers facing a trip to the stewards with only Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso avoiding the ire of the FIA.
The alleged offences relate to SQ1, but seven drivers – Hamilton included – were noted for a second infringement in SQ2, landing them a second trip to the stewards’ office.
Under the current FIA regulations, drivers are forbidden from exceeding a designated maximum delta time on their out laps and cooldown laps in an effort to prevent excessive traffic for vehicles on flying laps.
The sprint shootout was a relatively drama-free session, but Sergio Perez took the headlines after he was eliminated in SQ1, all but ending his hopes of scoring points before the Grand Prix.
Team-mate Verstappen also struggled at the Lusail International Circuit. The Dutchman, fresh off the back of securing his fourth successive World Championship in Las Vegas, qualified sixth.
“Just no pace to be honest, just slow,” he complained to Sky Sports F1. “I just don’t really have the balance to attack entry to mid-corner. The car is a bit off, so it makes it really difficult around here. The very high speed is ok but everything else is not ok and that makes it difficult to push.
“I think P6 is more or less where we should be, maybe even P7 actually. But of course that’s not where you want to be. In the sprint, it will be tough to fight the cars around me with just the balance that I have in the car.
“For the other qualifying, let’s see if we can improve the situation a bit, but I don’t expect it to be suddenly turned upside down and work. It’s not been amazing.”