Verstappen reprimanded but keeps Suzuka pole

Max Verstappen has been handed a reprimand by the race stewards at Suzuka for an incident during qualifying involving Lando Norris - but crucially, he still keeps pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

The two nearly made contact on their first out laps during the final round of the session, with Verstappen briefly losing the back end of the Red Bull at turn 15 as he sought to accelerate for his qualifying run.

Norris had been closing up on the slow RB18 and about to overtake when the rear of the car kicked out, causing it to inadvertently chop across the front of the McLaren.

• Read also: Verstappen sets sights on title with Suzuka pole

Verstappen went on to set the fastest lap and claimed pole position ahead of Ferrari rivals Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, while Norris ended up slowest of the ten drivers to make it through to Q3.

Norris said he expected Verstappen to be penalised for blocking, but Verstappen implied that the McLaren driver should have been "just a bit more respectful" and not tried to pass at that point of the track on an out lap.

But the stewards disagreed and blamed verstappen for the near-miss, although deeming the infraction worthy of only a reprimand that won't affect the gris for tomorrow's race.

“The driver of car 1 [Verstappen] was aware of car 55 [Sainz] in front and car 4 [Norris] approaching from behind and decided to accelerate at precisely the same time as car 4 decided to overtake car 1," the stewards declared after reviewing video and timing data.

“Unfortunately, due to lack of tyre temperature on car 1, the driver temporarily lost control of the car causing it to ‘snap’ anti-clockwise," the FIA statement continued.

The stewards said that Norris had agreed in the post-race meeting with them that there had been no unsportsmanlike intent from Verstappen.

“The driver of car 4 stated that this was simply an unfortunate incident, however it is the driver’s responsibility to at all times maintain control of their car.

“Regarding penalty, all previous breaches of this nature have resulted in a reprimand, hence a similar penalty is imposed in this case.”

Any driver who receives five such reprimands in a season is handed ten-place grid penalty, but this is Verstappen's first such slap on the wrist of 2022.

Keeping hold of pole means that Verstappen is firmly in charge heading into the race, which could see him crowned world champion for the second year in succession.

Verstappen needs to finish eight points clear of Leclerc in tomorrow's race, which he could do by taking victory and the bonus point for fastest lap regardless of what the Monegasque does.

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