Max Verstappen stated that questions regarding his potential race ban penalty points are “pissing him off” ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. He is set to start on the front row alongside his competitor, George Russell.
The current world champion, Verstappen, is just one penalty point away from receiving a race suspension. This situation arose after he had a collision with Russell during the previous race in Spain.
During Thursday`s media events in Montreal, Verstappen maintained he wouldn`t alter his driving style but preferred not to discuss the topic leading up to Sunday`s race.
“I don`t need to hear about it again. It`s truly pissing me off,” Verstappen remarked in the post-qualifying press conference when his penalty points were mentioned.
“You were talking about it on Thursday. It`s a complete waste of time. It`s quite childish, which is why I don`t want to say much more, because this world we live in is genuinely annoying.”
How Verstappen Collected His 11 Points
- June 30, 2024 – 2 points – Causing a collision with Lando Norris in the Austrian GP
- October 27, 2024 – 2 points – Forcing Lando Norris off the track at the Mexico City GP
- November 2, 2024 – 1 point – Driving too fast under a Virtual Safety Car in the Sao Paulo Sprint
- November 30, 2024 – 1 point – Driving unnecessarily slowly and impeding George Russell in Qatar GP qualifying
- December 8, 2024 – 2 points – Causing a collision with Oscar Piastri in the Abu Dhabi GP
- June 1, 2025 – 3 points – Causing a collision with George Russell in the Spanish GP
Verstappen and pole-position holder Russell have a history of contentious moments, which adds extra intrigue to the Canadian Grand Prix. The two could clash early in the race on the short run to Turn One, with championship leader Oscar Piastri starting third, ready to benefit from any issues.
Russell, whose most recent victory was in November 2024 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, wasted no time in taking a jab at Verstappen during his post-qualifying interview at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
He commented, “I have a few more points on my license to use! We`ll see.”
Russell later provided a more formal response to the media, stating that Verstappen “has more at stake than I do.”
He added, “I don`t believe any driver deliberately tries to crash into someone and accumulate penalty points.”
“Max is one of the top drivers. There`s no reason for him to change how he races. I don`t expect him to give us more space; if anything, he might do the opposite to make a point.”
“I`ll be cautious, but ultimately, we`re all here to win. You wouldn`t do anything that could jeopardize your race.”
“It`s a demanding season, and if you get a race ban, you serve it and spend some time away. It`s not ideal, but it`s not the absolute worst either.”
Regarding Piastri, he had the upper hand over Verstappen at the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but was overtaken by the Dutchman in Imola.
In Miami, Piastri demonstrated patience, avoiding risks against Verstappen before maneuvering him out of position to take the lead and ultimately win the race.
“Personally, I won`t race any differently. I won`t take more or less risk,” stated Piastri, who has a chance to increase his 10-point advantage over Lando Norris, starting seventh.
“I`m definitely not planning anything different. I`ll race just as I usually do.”
The previous occasion Russell and Verstappen shared the front row was the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. On that day, the Red Bull driver received a grid penalty for impeding, which later sparked a public argument between them in Abu Dhabi. Russell alleged Verstappen threatened him in the stewards` room.
However, in Qatar, Verstappen easily overtook Russell at the start and proceeded to win the race, a result he aims to repeat this Sunday in Montreal.
“We will try our best. It`s a long race,” he said.
“There are many uncertainties regarding the tires and how they will last. So, hopefully, we`ll be good with the tires and manage them effectively.”
Russell has achieved four podium finishes this season but is still seeking his first win, as Mercedes hasn`t had a genuine opportunity for victory in 2025.
Mercedes has maintained its pattern from the ground effect era in F1, performing better in cooler temperatures. Russell believes even cloudy conditions could impact their race pace.
“Our race pace was good on Friday, but it`s temperature-dependent. In practice, it was five degrees cooler than qualifying, and the car felt perfectly balanced,” he explained.
“However, things could easily change during the race. If the sun comes out, it`s a 2 pm race compared to a 4 pm qualifying. That makes a significant difference.”
“So, it won`t be an easy race, and naturally, I have some very fast competitors nearby. We don`t know if it will be a one-stop or two-stop strategy, so it won`t be simple.”
When asked if he would be aggressive towards Verstappen at the start, Russell replied, “We are both competing for the win here, and neither of us is currently in a championship fight.”
“I haven`t won this year, so I want to secure a victory. Time will tell.”
McLaren has faced their most challenging weekend of the season yet, but they cannot be discounted from the battle for the lead, especially considering they have won seven out of nine races in 2025.
Piastri, using the previous suspension specification instead of the upgraded version on Norris`s car, anticipates being close behind Russell and Verstappen.
“Friday didn`t look promising in any session, but I definitely feel more comfortable now than I did in final practice and Friday,” stated the championship leader.
“Our race pace is typically our strength. The two drivers next to me [Verstappen and Russell] were very fast during the race simulations on Friday, so it certainly won`t be an easy win, but I believe we are definitely contenders.”
Wesley Dunham