Why Is Max Verstappen Facing a Potential F1 Race Ban?

Max Verstappen is now just one step away from a Formula 1 race ban after collecting 11 penalty points on his superlicence in less than a year.

F1 drivers face an automatic one-race suspension after receiving 12 points in a 12-month period, and Verstappen’s situation has caught the attention of the whole paddock. His most recent penalty came at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, 2025, when a clash with George Russell resulted in a 10-second penalty and three more penalty points.

This left the Red Bull driver with little margin for error through the upcoming Canadian and Austrian rounds.

Verstappen’s tally grew through a series of on-track incidents involving other drivers. It began in June 2024 at the Austrian Grand Prix with a collision with Lando Norris.

Verstappen defended the lead aggressively, causing both cars to suffer punctures. For this, he was handed a 10-second penalty and two licence points.

Then, in Mexico on October 27, Verstappen forced Norris off the track at Turn 4. Despite two separate penalties during that race, only the first incident added two penalty points to his tally, as the stewards found Verstappen responsible for forcing a rival wide.

One month later, on November 2 at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen broke VSC (Virtual Safety Car) rules by accelerating early, 0.63 seconds below the minimum time before a green flag. He dropped from third to fourth and also received a penalty point for this infraction.

At the Qatar Grand Prix on November 30, Verstappen drove unnecessarily slowly during qualifying and blocked George Russell. While both were on out-laps, Verstappen’s actions were enough for a one-place grid drop and another penalty point.

The list continues into December. At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 8, Verstappen collided with Oscar Piastri on the opening lap by unsuccessfully forcing his way through into Turn 1.

The stewards decided he was entirely at fault, earning him a 10-second penalty and two more points on his licence. After securing his fourth title, Verstappen accepted blame, apologizing to Piastri for a move that spun both cars.

The most costly moments came at the Spanish Grand Prix, as Verstappen battled Russell and Charles Leclerc after a late-race safety car. Riding on old hard tyres, Verstappen first left the track while dueling with Russell.

Red Bull told him to let Russell through, but as he slowed, he accelerated into Russell’s car at Turn 5, causing contact. Stewards determined Verstappen was clearly at fault, assessed a 10-second penalty and gave him three new penalty points.

The points that led Verstappen to this dangerous threshold have not been for minor infractions, but mostly for racing incidents where the blame was assigned to him. While he often competes fiercely at the front, his aggressive moves have now put his season at risk.

With drivers punished for exceeding the 12-point limit, even one more misjudgment could lead to Verstappen sitting out a Grand Prix.

For now, Verstappen must avoid any more infractions until the earliest points begin to expire, keeping his championship hopes in the balance.

The spotlight remains firmly on him as the F1 calendar heads to Montreal and Spielberg, with every move under close watch from both stewards and fans.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.