Verstappen to the limit: Could he miss an F1 race due to penalties?

Verstappen to the limit: Could he miss a race due to point accumulation?

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is in a delicate situation following the incident with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, which earned him a time penalty and points on his FIA superlicense. The accumulation of these points could result in an automatic suspension for a race. Verstappen was penalized with 10 seconds for colliding with Russell in the last laps of the race in Spain. An incident that the driver himself described as “incorrect” and that “should not have happened.” Despite the time penalty, the most serious consequence came from the stewards: three penalty points on his FIA superlicense, totaling 11 points within a 12-month period. This leaves him one point away from the 12-point threshold, which triggers an automatic one-race suspension. This means that Verstappen, known for his bold driving style, will have to be especially careful at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix, two weeks later, which is Red Bull’s home race. Two of his penalty points will expire on June 30, which would leave him three points away from a suspension for the British Grand Prix.

There is no room for error for Verstappen

Alofoke Deportes

This rule has already forced a driver to miss a race. Kevin Magnussen missed last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after accumulating 12 points, being replaced by Oliver Bearman.

Penalty points are awarded based on the severity and circumstances of each incident, although the interpretation of the regulations may vary depending on the stewards of each race. Verstappen’s transgression in Spain leaves him no room for maneuver. Even a relatively minor incident could get him into trouble again.

Possible infractions that could cost you a career

Causing a collision: This is the most common infraction that can lead to a points penalty. Verstappen’s incident with Russell in Spain was included in this category. Four other penalty points for Verstappen have been for “causing a collision”:

• Two penalty points for his collision with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix.
• Two penalty points for his collision with Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Forcing another driver off the track: Verstappen has challenged the limits of the regulations in the past. Verstappen received two other points for this reason in last year’s Mexican Grand Prix. These penalties can come quickly. Nico Hulkenberg suffered this in Austria last year, earning two penalty points. Given Verstappen’s way of racing, the Red Bull team will be holding their breath every time the driver is near another car in the upcoming races.

Leaving the track and gaining an advantage: Although it’s a common reason for a penalty in a race, the guidelines suggest a 10-second penalty without points. Magnussen received three points for this infraction in the 2023 Miami Grand Prix.Infractions under yellow or red flags: Overtaking under yellow or red flags is also prohibited.Driving unnecessarily slowly: One of Verstappen’s penalty points was for driving unnecessarily slowly during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix. The incident caused a dispute between the drivers.Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car Infringement: Exceeding the speed limit under a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car can result in penalties. Russell received a penalty point for leaving a space of more than 125 meters during the Qatar Grand Prix.