Max Verstappen is facing a critical period in the upcoming two Formula 1 races, being just one point away from an automatic one-race suspension. This follows the penalty points he incurred due to his collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix.
In Sunday`s race, the incident involving the Mercedes driver on lap 64 led the stewards to impose a significant 10-second time penalty on Verstappen. This dropped his final finishing position from fifth to tenth place.
Additionally, the stewards added three penalty points to the reigning world champion`s super licence. This increases his total to 11 points within the last 12-month period.
Formula 1 regulations state that a driver receives a one-race ban if they accumulate 12 penalty points within a year.
Penalty points remain on a driver`s super licence for a duration of 12 months before they are removed.
Kevin Magnussen, a former Haas driver, was the first to be banned under this points system since its implementation in 2014.
Verstappen`s current points total includes two points from a collision with Lando Norris at last year`s Austrian Grand Prix, which will not expire until June 30th.
The Canadian Grand Prix on June 15th and this year`s Austrian GP on June 29th are scheduled before this June 30th expiry date. Therefore, Verstappen must avoid any incidents in Montreal and at the Red Bull Ring that could result in further penalty points and trigger a suspension.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6th is the event following these two races.
Verstappen will need to drive carefully in wheel-to-wheel situations well past the end of June, as he will still have at least nine penalty points until October 27th, when the next two points from last season`s incidents expire.
Comment to the situation in Barcelona after the race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remarked, “You can never guarantee anything.”
He added, “He`s just got to keep his nose clean in the next couple of races.”
Horner concluded, “Then the first points come off at the end of June.”
Finishing the race in tenth place meant Verstappen is now 49 points behind the championship leader, which is equivalent to the points from two race victories.
