Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen finds himself in an unusual and precarious position. Following a contentious incident at the recent Spanish Grand Prix, where he collided with George Russell, the Red Bull driver received a 10-second penalty and, perhaps more significantly for his immediate future, three penalty points added to his Super Licence.
This latest sanction brings Verstappen`s total penalty points over the last 12 months to 11. Given that twelve points within a year trigger an automatic one-race ban in Formula 1, the Dutchman is now just one minor infraction away from sitting out an event. The timing couldn`t be more critical, as his earliest points don`t expire until June 30th, a date falling *after* the upcoming Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix. This means Verstappen must navigate these next two race weekends with absolute, perhaps uncharacteristic, caution.
Understanding F1`s Penalty Point System
Introduced in 2014, F1`s penalty point system acts as a deterrent against repeated dangerous driving or consistent rule breaches. Stewards can issue between one and three points for on-track incidents, in addition to any immediate sporting penalties like time additions or grid drops. These points remain on a driver`s Super Licence for exactly 12 months before being removed.
Accumulating 12 points within this rolling period results in an automatic suspension from the subsequent race. It`s a system akin to points on a standard road driving licence, where repeated smaller offenses, or a single significant one, can lead to a ban.
How Verstappen Reached 11 Points
Verstappen`s journey to 11 points is a collection of incidents over the past year, demonstrating that it`s not solely major crashes but also procedural or less severe on-track transgressions that contribute. His current tally includes:
- 2 points for causing a collision with Lando Norris at the 2024 Austrian GP (Expires June 30, 2025)
- 2 points for forcing Lando Norris off track at the 2024 Mexico City GP (Expires Oct 27, 2025)
- 1 point for driving too fast under a Virtual Safety Car during the 2024 Sao Paulo Sprint (Expires Nov 2, 2025)
- 1 point for driving unnecessarily slowly and impeding George Russell during 2024 Qatar GP qualifying (Expires Nov 30, 2025)
- 2 points for causing a collision with Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP (Expires Dec 8, 2025)
- 3 points for causing a collision with George Russell at the 2025 Spanish GP (Expires June 1, 2026)
As the list shows, only the points from the Austrian GP incident expire before the critical two-race window passes. This leaves no margin for error in Montreal and Austria. Even a single point, sometimes awarded for relatively minor contact or procedural errors (like speeding under a VSC or impeding in qualifying), would trigger the ban.
A Tightrope Walk in Canada and Austria
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has publicly acknowledged the situation, stating Verstappen simply “has got to keep his nose clean” in the upcoming races. For a driver known for his aggressive racing style and willingness to push boundaries, this presents an interesting challenge. The margin is literally one point.
Historically, few drivers have come close to the 12-point limit. Kevin Magnussen became the first and only driver to receive a ban under the modern system last season after accumulating 12 points, resulting in him missing the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Before 2014, bans were also issued, notably to Romain Grosjean in 2012 and Michael Schumacher in 1994.
Potential Replacements: A Hypothetical Scenario
While Red Bull naturally hopes the scenario won`t arise, contingency planning is part of F1. If Verstappen were to incur a ban, his seat would likely be filled by one of the drivers from Red Bull`s sister team, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri). Liam Lawson, who impressed when deputizing for Daniel Ricciardo last season, and Isack Hadjar are the primary candidates. Such a move would then open up a temporary spot at Racing Bulls for a Red Bull junior like Ayumu Iwasa or potentially Arvid Lindblad, who recently secured the necessary Super Licence exemption.
However, the focus for now remains squarely on Verstappen`s performance and discipline on track. The Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix will be closely watched, not just for the championship battle, but to see if the reigning champion can successfully navigate this unwelcome penalty tightrope.