![Red Bull's Max Verstappen during training](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/09/2023-09-16T181524Z_1_LYNXMPEJ8F08Z_RTROPTP_4_MOTOR-F1-SINGAPORE-scaled.jpg)
Formula 1 F1 – Singapore Grand Prix – Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore – September 16, 2023 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during training REUTERS/Caroline Chia
SINGAPORE – Red Bull’s two-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen received two reprimands in one qualifying session but escaped a grid drop during the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday.
The championship leader, who has won the last 10 races but qualified a shocking 11th, faced questions from three stewards for alleged obstruction after a nightmare under the Marina Bay floodlights.
Stewards gave him his first reprimand of the season for unnecessarily impeding cars as they exited the pit lane, with the Dutch driver waiting some 14 seconds to open a gap with the cars in front of him.
The second was for obstructing AlphaTauri stablemate Yuki Tsunoda, with the representative of Red Bull’s sister team choosing not to attend the hearing.
Verstappen was fully cleared of obstructing Williams’ Logan Sargeant after the American told stewards he did not believe the champion was guilty.
Red Bull was fined 5,000 euros ($5,300) for the Tsunoda incident.
Carlos Sainz took pole position for Ferrari. Sainz’s lap of 1:30.984 seconds ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell by 0.072 seconds and the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who was third, 0.007 seconds further back.
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