Breaking: Max Verstappen Faces Race BAN as FIA Issues New Pe…read more
Max Verstappen Nearing Race Ban as FIA Issues New Penalty After Spanish Grand Prix
Max Verstappen is on the brink of a Formula 1 race suspension after receiving a fresh penalty from the FIA in the aftermath of the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver was sanctioned for a late-race collision with George Russell of Mercedes. Although both drivers finished the race—Verstappen in fourth and Russell in fifth—the stewards ruled Verstappen responsible for the incident, dropping him to 10th place with a 10-second time penalty. He was also issued three penalty points on his FIA superlicence.
The additional points bring Verstappen’s total to 11 within the past 12 months—just one point short of the 12-point limit that results in an automatic one-race ban under FIA rules.
Verstappen’s Penalty Point History:
| Date | Grand Prix | Offense | Points | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2024 | Austrian GP | Collision with Lando Norris | 2 | June 30, 2025 |
| October 27, 2024 | Mexico City GP | Forcing Lando Norris off-track | 2 | October 27, 2025 |
| November 1, 2024 | Brazil Sprint | Breaching VSC delta time | 1 | November 1, 2025 |
| December 1, 2024 | Qatar GP | Driving unnecessarily slowly during qualifying | 1 | December 1, 2025 |
| December 8, 2024 | Abu Dhabi GP | Collision with Oscar Piastri | 2 | December 8, 2025 |
| June 1, 2025 | Spanish GP | Causing a collision with George Russell | 3 | June 1, 2026 |
Superlicence Penalty Point Leaders:
| Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 11 |
| Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 6 |
| Jack Doohan | Alpine | 4 |
| Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 4 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 4 |
| Ollie Bearman | Haas | 4 |
Verstappen is now walking a tightrope ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, where any additional penalty—however minor—could lead to a one-race suspension.
This latest blow comes after a disappointing weekend in Barcelona, where he secured just one championship point. A recent FIA technical directive aimed at reducing McLaren’s advantage had little effect, and Verstappen’s already narrow title hopes took another hit.
With the pressure mounting, the spotlight is firmly on Verstappen to maintain a clean record in the races ahead—or risk a costly absence from the grid.
Keep following GPFans for ongoing updates.
About The Author
