Senior Red bull's figure Helmut Marko sends stark warning to Max

Senior Red bull’s figure Helmut Marko sends stark warning to Max Verstappen as F1 race…….read more

Helmut Marko, a senior figure at Red Bull Racing, has issued a cautionary message to Max Verstappen, warning him to be more cautious in the 2025 Formula 1 season. This comes after the reigning world champion accumulated his seventh and eighth penalty points during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen, one of the sport’s leading drivers, has been increasingly under scrutiny as F1 has seen a stricter approach to penalties for on-track incidents, especially during wheel-to-wheel battles.

Under the new race director, Rui Marques, there has been a noticeable shift towards stricter enforcement of penalties for drivers involved in avoidable contact. This new approach was something that many prominent drivers in F1 had pushed for during discussions with the FIA throughout the season. However, the severity of the penalties, and the speed at which they are being handed out, has come as a surprise to several in the paddock, with Verstappen himself being directly impacted.

In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen was penalized for an incident on the opening lap of the race, where he made contact with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, causing the Australian driver to spin. The stewards handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty, along with two penalty points for his role in the incident. The same fate befell Piastri later in the race when he was involved in a similar contact with Franco Colapinto. This was part of a wider trend in the race, where several drivers, including Valtteri Bottas and Liam Lawson, were also penalized for avoidable contact.

For Verstappen, these two penalty points added to his existing tally of six from earlier in the year, bringing his total to eight penalty points over a 12-month period. According to the FIA’s penalty point system, any driver who reaches 12 points within this period is subject to a race ban, meaning Verstappen would be sidelined for the next race if he accumulates four more points before the end of the season. This system has already affected other drivers, with Kevin Magnussen serving a race ban earlier in the year due to a similar accumulation of penalty points.

Marko, speaking to Sky Germany, acknowledged Verstappen’s current predicament, pointing out that the driver had now reached eight penalty points, which is a cause for concern. He emphasized that Verstappen, along with the team, would need to be extra careful in the 2025 season to avoid further penalties. “We need to start being careful,” Marko said, indicating that Verstappen’s behavior on track would need to be more measured moving forward.

The Red Bull advisor also voiced his concerns over the consistency of the stewarding in F1. While the push for more robust enforcement of rules has been supported by many within the sport, Marko pointed out that the application of penalties has not always been uniform. He mentioned that with some stewards, the penalties tend to be harsher, creating a level of unpredictability that makes it harder for drivers to navigate the rules effectively. This inconsistency has been an ongoing issue in F1, with many drivers and teams calling for a clearer and more consistent approach to penalty decisions.

For Verstappen, a race ban could have significant implications for his championship aspirations. As a four-time world champion, he is determined to defend his title and continue his dominance in the sport. A suspension could severely hinder his chances of retaining the Drivers’ Championship, especially as the competition from teams like McLaren and Ferrari continues to grow stronger.

Marko’s warning also comes at a time when Red Bull’s focus has shifted towards maintaining their competitive edge in the Constructors’ Championship. After a dominant period in 2023, McLaren and Ferrari have shown considerable improvement, and Red Bull faces challenges ahead to stay ahead in the team standings. This makes it even more crucial for Verstappen to avoid unnecessary penalties, as his participation in every race will be essential to securing another championship for both himself and his team.

As the 2025 season approaches, Verstappen will have to balance his aggressive racing style with the increasing pressure to avoid penalties. With the new penalty point system and the stricter enforcement of rules, his every move on track will be closely scrutinized, and any misstep could result in costly consequences. For Red Bull, ensuring that Verstappen avoids further penalty points will be a top priority, especially as they aim to defend both their Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in the face of rising competition.