Max Verstappen Urged to Take More Risks Despite Race Ban Threat

Max Verstappen is facing a critical moment in his Formula 1 career. The current Red Bull Racing driver, who has already won four world championships, has accumulated 11 penalty points.

If he gains one more penalty point in either the Canadian or Austrian Grand Prix, he will be banned for a race. That type of sanction is extremely rare in Formula 1, and only one other driver has received such a ban before.

His current points won’t begin to expire until after the Austrian Grand Prix, so Verstappen has to finish both races cleanly to avoid a suspension.

Recently, Verstappen received a three-point penalty after colliding with George Russell at Turn 5 in the last laps of the Spanish Grand Prix. He was also demoted to 10th place following a 10-second time penalty in that same event. More details can be found in the Verstappen-Russell incident.

These incidents have added pressure as Verstappen fights to stay in the championship battle. His main rivals are McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who are leading in the points standings.

Piastri currently leads with 186 points, Norris follows with 176, and Verstappen sits at 137.

Despite the risk, former F1 racer Jolyon Palmer believes Verstappen will not change the way he races. Palmer, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, said Verstappen’s aggressive approach defines his style and helps him win races that others might not.

He cited Verstappen’s confident performance at Imola, where he pulled off a daring move around the outside at the first corner. Palmer mentioned that Verstappen is the type of driver who consistently pushes the limits and often succeeds because of his boldness on track.

Palmer noted that the collision with Russell was not typical for Verstappen. He described it as more of a moment where Verstappen lost his cool, rather than misjudging a racing move. This perspective is also echoed in Verstappen-Russell clash.

Going forward, Palmer expects Verstappen to keep his usual racing style—pushing the limits, making bold lunges, and fighting for every opportunity at the front. The expectation is that Verstappen will work hard to avoid another incident but is unlikely to back down when chasing points.

With the upcoming Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix on June 15 and June 29, Verstappen must be careful. Red Bull as a team also sits fourth in the constructor standings, trailing McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.

Verstappen’s continued presence is critical for their hopes of improving their position. A race ban now could seriously damage his chances to defend the title and impact Red Bull’s results in a close fight at the top. Team principal Christian Horner recently emphasized this in a Horner-Roberg-Verstappen claim.

Fans and analysts are watching closely as Verstappen prepares for these high-stakes races. His skill and determination will be tested as he aims to keep his record clean and stay in the hunt for the championship.

The next two weekends will reveal whether Verstappen can balance his trademark aggression with the need to avoid costly mistakes.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.