Verstappen reprimanded for blocking Bottas in FP1

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has been reprimanded by stewards during the opening free practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend after he blocked Williams' Valtteri Bottas.

Verstappen was dawdling on the racing line, approaching the final chicane, while Bottas was travelling at speed and was forced to take avoiding action by going on to the run-off area. He angrily reported the near miss over the Williams team radio.

Race stewards studied the incident and decided to give Verstappen a reprimand, the teenager's first such penalty of the season.

Should a driver collects three reprimands during at any point in the season, they will be penalised with a 10-place grid drop.