Verstappen summoned over yellow-flag pass in Singapore

FIA stewards summoned Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for a hearing after an alleged yellow-flag pass during sprint qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix. The investigation left Verstappen’s sprint pole provisional, with a decision still pending after the session on Friday, October 9. Hamilton told his team over the radio that Verstappen had passed him under yellow flags. Verstappen said he thought he had passed before the flags appeared and later told his team he had let Hamilton by again. The stewards are to determine whether the flags were out before the pass; the supplied reports do not establish that timing. The incident occurred in the opening segment of qualifying after Sergio Perez crashed at Turn 5. The Cadillac driver damaged his front wing, and debris from his car was left on the circuit. The session was stopped with a red flag while the track was cleared. Verstappen set the fastest time in the final qualifying segment, a 1:31.156 lap, and was due to start the sprint from pole if the stewards’ inquiry does not change the classification. George Russell qualified second, followed by Charles Leclerc. Hamilton was sixth. The hearing was scheduled for 10:15 p.m.