Max Verstappen has avoided a penalty for allegedly blocking Valtteri Bottas during the final stage of Formula 1 qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix on Saturday, with the st🦩ewards ta🧔king no further action.

Verstappen opted to back off in order to warm his tyres up for a second flying lap early in Q3 💮at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, only for Bottas - still only a flying lap - to come across the Dutchman entering the stadium section.

While Verstappen moved his car to the left-hand side of the circuit to try and move off the racing 🦹line, Bottas felt he was impeded as he came acℱross the Red Bull on-track, causing him to lock up at the next corner due to turbulent air.

The stewards swiftly confirmed they would be investiga🎃ting Verstappen over the incident, although the Dutchman made his feelings clear after the session saying: "There is noꦏ incident".

After meeting with the stewards soon after qualifying, Verstappen was cleared of blocking Boജttas in a decision announced by the FIA not long after the Dutchman had met with race officials.

"The driver of Car 33 was clearly aware from the team radio and using his mirrors that Car 77 was approaching on a hot lap," the stewards'ꦕ decision statement reads.

"He moved from the racing lin༒e on the exit of Turn 12 to avoid impeding Car 77. The driver of Car 33 did move slow🐽ly from the racing line which could have affected Car 77, but the stewards do not consider this as impeding."

As a ෴result, Verstappen will line up second on the grid as planned on Sunday, with Bottas taking P4 for the start for Mercedes.