Sebastian Vettel says it was clear drivers had to back off for the yellow flags at the scene of Valtteri Bottas’s crash.

Pole winner Max Verstappen is under investigation after admitting he did not reduce his speed when he went past the yellow flags at the end of the session.

Vettel did slow down, but would not be drawn on whether Verstappen should be given a penalty. “I am not the police so don’t ask me,” he said.

“For me it was clear it was double yellow. Obviously, I saw that Valtteri was in the barrier. People were jumping on the track to help so it’s clear you have to lift.”

The Ferrari driver qualified third behind Verstappen and team mate Charles Leclerc. He said he would have had a shot at pole position if he’d not had to back off on his final run.

“Obviously [it was] not ideal with a yellow flag, otherwise I think it could have been a better session for myself.

“But I had it in my hands in the first run. I was probably too cautious after a very good first sector, too cautious in sector two. Then I lost a bit the rhythm, and I was too aggressive in the end. I had a big snap at the last corner.

“So I was quite confident I can make up quite some time in the second run. But then there was a yellow flag. It happens.”

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2019 F1 season