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Red Bull Prepared for Possible Verstappen Suspension Amid Rising Penalty Points
Red Bull Racing is reportedly bracing for the possibility that Max Verstappen could be hit with a one-race suspension during the 2025 Formula 1 season. This follows a controversial incident at the Spanish Grand Prix where the three-time world champion was found guilty of deliberately causing a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell. After a post-race investigation, stewards handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty and issued him three penalty points on his FIA super licence.
That penalty brings Verstappen’s total to 11 points accrued over the last 12 months. With 12 being the threshold for an automatic race ban, the Dutch driver is now skating on thin ice. If he receives just one more point before some of the existing ones expire on June 30, he will be forced to sit out a race—something Red Bull is desperate to avoid as they continue to chase McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the championship. Verstappen currently trails Piastri by 49 points in the driver standings, making every race critical to his title defense. Missing even a single Grand Prix could significantly damage his chances of reclaiming the crown.
In anticipation of this potential scenario, Red Bull has already prepared a contingency plan. According to reports from GPFans, the team is exploring temporary replacement options from within its junior driver ranks. The two frontrunners are Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar—both of whom are currently competing with Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team. If Verstappen is suspended, Red Bull would likely promote one of them to the senior team for a race weekend, while Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa would step in at Racing Bulls to fill the vacated seat.
This strategy effectively dismisses any speculation about a return for Daniel Ricciardo. The popular Australian, once a Red Bull race winner, was dropped by Racing Bulls during the 2024 season after underwhelming performances and hasn’t appeared on the F1 grid since. While fans have expressed hope that Ricciardo might make a farewell appearance in a Red Bull car, the team appears focused on nurturing its next generation of talent rather than revisiting past driver lineups.
Among the two main contenders, Liam Lawson seems to have a slight advantage due to his prior experience with Red Bull machinery and his ongoing race mileage with Racing Bulls. However, it’s worth noting that he was briefly promoted to Red Bull earlier this season but was demoted after only two races, which may raise concerns over his readiness.
Isack Hadjar, meanwhile, is making waves in his rookie season. With 21 championship points so far—outperforming both Lawson and teammate Yuki Tsunoda—Hadjar has quickly become one of the most talked-about newcomers on the grid. His strong form and consistent racecraft may give him an edge in Red Bull’s decision-making process, even if he hasn’t driven for the senior team yet.
Additionally, Red Bull’s choice to promote Iwasa to Racing Bulls in the event of a vacancy means that rising F2 star Arvid Lindblad will not be rushed into F1 just yet. Despite his impressive performances in the junior categories, Red Bull seems committed to giving its young talents a measured path to the top tier.
Ultimately, Verstappen’s potential suspension could disrupt Red Bull’s championship campaign, but the team’s preparation highlights its long-term vision and faith in its development program.
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