Stewards deliver verdict after Verstappen summoned over rule breach

Max Verstappen has avoided a grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix after being investigated post-qualifying by the stewards in Montreal.

Verstappen was summoned after allegedly breaching Article 34.8 of the sporting regulations and the race director's event notes.

The Dutchman's alleged infringement came at the start of Q2 when he stopped beside the fast lane before filtering into the group as they exited the pit lane.

Verstappen ended the session in second place, despite setting the exact same lap time as pole-sitter George Russell.

As it was Russell who set the lap time first, he was awarded the top spot on the grid for the start of Sunday's race.

Verstappen Canadian GP verdict in full

Explaining their decision to take no further action, the FIA stewards wrote: “The team stated in the hearing that they assumed Car 1 had crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the working lane when it was released from the garage and therefore followed the procedure outlined in Article 34.8 to leave the pit lane in the order the cars arrived there. 

“The Stewards determine that this assumption was inaccurate as no wheel of Car 1 had crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the working lane. It is noted that the fast lane is demarcated as the lane (marked by two solid white lines) closest to the pit wall. 

“Any other white lines and/or painted areas have no relevance in this context. Given the fact that Car 1 was not in the fast lane at the start of the session, the regulations and the Race Director’s Event Notes (item 11, document 29) only required the driver to blend into the fast lane as soon as it is safe to do so, meaning that if there is a suitable gap in a queue of cars in the fast lane, and without unnecessarily  impeding cars already in the fast lane. 

“The Steward contend that these requirements were fulfilled and take no further action.”