BREAKING: Max Verstappen Silverstone fate sealed as Red Bull

Max Verstappen Cleared for Silverstone Despite Austrian GP Penalty Points Risk

Max Verstappen will be able to compete at the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone despite lingering concerns over his penalty points tally. The Red Bull Racing star has managed to avoid an immediate race ban, following the outcome of the Austrian Grand Prix, easing some pressure on the reigning World Champion and his team.

Silverstone, one of the most iconic circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, will host the British Grand Prix weekend from July 4 to July 6. Red Bull are in urgent need of a strong result there after a challenging outing at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Verstappen suffered a rare DNF (Did Not Finish) in the Austrian race, while his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda also endured a disappointing weekend, compounding the team’s frustrations.

Verstappen had been sitting dangerously close to the 12-point limit on the FIA’s penalty point system, which triggers an automatic one-race suspension. However, two of his penalty points expired on June 30, reducing his total from eleven to nine. This means he has temporarily sidestepped the threat of a ban. Nonetheless, the risk hasn’t completely disappeared. If Verstappen were to accumulate three or more additional penalty points before any further expirations occur in October, he could again find himself facing a suspension from one of the upcoming races.

Red Bull will undoubtedly be keen to ensure Verstappen remains disciplined and avoids any further on-track infringements that could put their title defense at risk. The expiration of the two points offers temporary relief, but with several high-stakes races coming up, the team must tread carefully.

Meanwhile, Verstappen’s team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda, also found himself in hot water with the race stewards during the Austrian Grand Prix. Tsunoda was penalized for causing a collision with rookie driver Franco Colapinto during the race at Spielberg. The incident earned the Japanese driver a 10-second time penalty during the race and an additional two penalty points on his super license.

Franco Colapinto, who was involved in the clash with Tsunoda, did not receive any penalty for that specific incident. However, he did face disciplinary action for a separate event. Colapinto was given his first ever penalty point after he was deemed to have forced Oscar Piastri, the current championship leader, off the track during a wheel-to-wheel battle.

As the F1 circus moves to Silverstone, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can bounce back from a disappointing Austrian Grand Prix and stay within the FIA’s strict conduct limits. With Red Bull under increasing pressure, the British GP promises to be a crucial moment in the season for both drivers and the team as a whole.