The FIA has confirmed that Max Verstappen was judged to have slowed sufficiently in the mini sector in which Valtteri Bottas’ crash in Mexico took place.
Bottas went off exiting the final corner on his second Q3 push lap and a single waved yellow flag was shown, due to the Mercedes W10 being stranded at the side of the track.
Verstappen was behind Bottas on track, and on a hot lap, and improved on his provisional pole effort to move further clear of Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.
Verstappen set a purple sector time through the final sector, prompting suggestions that he was at risk of a penalty for not slowing for a yellow flag, as he said he did not back off.
But a senior FIA representative confirmed to Motorsport Week that through the mini sector in which the yellow flag was shown Verstappen was judged to have sufficiently slowed.
Each Formula 1 circuit is divided into three sectors and within those segments of the track are mini sectors, which the stewards use to judge any potential yellow flag transgressions.
Stewards have not yet provided any official comment on the situation.
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