Is Max Verstappen on the Verge of a Race Ban?
Max Verstappen, the head driver at Red Bull, announced that the contact between Mercedes driver George Russell and him in the Spanish Grand Prix was a mistake that should not have occurred. While Verstappen ended up receiving three penalty points in Barcelona, he was told by Christian Horner to shape up. There is only one penalty point he can receive before he gains a race ban. The Red Bull Team Principal is not pleased with the situation, especially as his star driver has a total of 11 penalty points. In order to receive the race ban, you must receive 12 penalty points in a year. This has happened recently to Kevin Magnussen in 2024, after he accumulated those 12 points, causing him to miss the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen was handed the three points after a highly chaotic contact between Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari, Verstappen, and Russell. If the Dutchman gains one more penalty point, he will roll across a 12-month time span. These points will stick with him until June, so until then, the Red Bull star must stay clear during the Canadian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix. These two races coming up will determine how well Verstappen can keep his cool without any damage or rule breaks. The four-time world champion has talent this generation will never forget, and hopefully, a race ban will not hinder his future.
Supposedly, two points are going to be dropped from his license on June 30th, 2025. This is warranted from last year’s collision with McLaren driver Lando Norris during the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. Nine points would be his standing, which also means that the next points will not be taken until the end of October 2025. What is going on with the Dutch driver? Is the pressure of racing, now that I'm a biological father of one and a stepfather to another, too much to bear? Is Red Bull burning out? Hopefully, in the next few races, Verstappen will find his cool, take a breath, and remain sharp in his skilled driving. Make sure to stay tuned for the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15th!
