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Max Verstappen on the Brink of a Historic Suspension

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen finds himself perilously close to an unprecedented setback: with 11 penalty points on his FIA Super Licence, just one more would trigger an automatic one-race suspension under the sport’s penalty-points system. Verstappen picked up three points for his late-race collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix—an incident he later called “a mistake” in a public statement—bringing his total to 11 out of the 12 that lead to a ban . Should he receive that 12th point—perhaps following the upcoming Canadian (June 15) or Austrian (June 29) Grands Prix—Verstappen would be forced to sit out the next event, marking the first suspension for a reigning champion since the system’s inception.

The Super Licence Penalty-Points System

Under Article 16.5 of the FIA International Sporting Code, any driver who accumulates 12 penalty points within a rolling 12-month period automatically forfeits their super licence for one race weekend. Once the suspension is served, all points are cleared, and the driver may restart with a clean slate . Penalty points remain on a driver’s licence for exactly 12 months before expiring, meaning Verstappen’s oldest points—two from the 2024 Austrian GP—will drop off on June 30, 2025, resetting his tally to nine if he avoids further infractions.

Does a Race Ban Derail a Title Bid?

History suggests that missing a round need not derail a championship campaign. Since the penalty-points system began in 2014, eight drivers have served race bans and still achieved significant success:

Michael Schumacher (1994)

Disqualified and banned for two races after overtaking Damon Hill on the formation lap at Silverstone, then ignoring a five-second stop-go penalty and a subsequent black flag.

Despite missing Hockenheim and the Italian GP, Schumacher secured his first world title that year.

Nigel Mansell (1989)

Black-flagged at the Portuguese GP for reversing in the pit lane. Ignoring the disqualification flag, he re-entered the race and collided with Ayrton Senna, earning a one-race ban (served in Spain) and a $50,000 fine.

Mika Häkkinen (1994)

Received a suspended one-race ban after a last-lap collision with Rubens Barrichello at Silverstone. The ban was activated at the German GP following a first-corner crash with David Coulthard, forcing him to miss Hungary.

Jacques Villeneuve (1997)

Disqualified from the Japanese GP and subsequently banned after ignoring yellow flags during practice at Suzuka, triggering a suspended ban from Monza. Despite losing two championship points, he went on to claim the 1997 title.

Eddie Irvine (1994)

Initially given a one-race ban for causing a four-car pile-up at Interlagos, Jordan’s appeal led the FIA to increase the penalty to three races—Pacific, San Marino and Monaco. Irvine returned in Spain to score his first points of the season.

Kevin Magnussen (2024)

Became the first driver since Romain Grosjean to serve a penalty-points suspension when he reached 12 points at Monza, missing the Azerbaijan GP. Oliver Bearman deputized for him at Haas.

Romain Grosjean (2012)

Banned for one race after his first-corner crash at Spa launched cars into Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and others. The suspension, served at Monza, was accompanied by a €50,000 fine.

Riccardo Patrese (1978)

Suspended from the U.S. GP after a multi-car crash at Monza that injured Ronnie Peterson. Cleared later, Patrese nonetheless missed the next round under pressure from fellow drivers. (Detailed contemporary sources limited; widely documented in F1 histories.)

Analysis: Championship Implications

Missing a race can reshape a title battle in several ways:

Points swing: Even a non-scoring weekend costs more than a usual DNF, as rivals can score uninterrupted.
Team strategy: Constructors’ stakes may force teams to prioritize one driver’s comeback.
Psychological edge: The suspension can galvanize a driver—or spark doubts under intense media scrutiny.

Verstappen’s bid for a fifth consecutive crown faces amplified pressure. Red Bull must balance risk management—encouraging clean racing—against the pace advantage that has defined their season.

Verstappen’s current predicament underscores the FIA’s aim: deter dangerous conduct through a structured points system. Yet, F1 history shows that a one-race suspension, while significant, seldom ends a champion’s pursuit. Should Verstappen incur that 12th point, he would join a select group of legends who overcame similar hurdles—turning a potential crisis into a testament to resilience on the road to glory.