Max Verstappen is one penalty point away from receiving a race ban at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman has acquired 11 points on his FIA Super Licence, meaning one more would see him miss out on the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Verstappen has been involved in numerous race incidents in recent years, but he will need to keep it clean this weekend to keep his championship hopes alive.
A re-enactment of last year’s race at the Red Bull Ring would be costly for the four-time world champion.
Max Verstappen receives penalty points for 2024 collision with Lando Norris
The 2024 Formula One title fight between Lando Norris and Verstappen boiled over at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The rivals came together at turn three, as Verstappen pinched Norris to the outside, which resulted in both cars receiving punctures. Norris was knocked out of the race, and Verstappen finished fifth after a 10-second time penalty.
It was a major moment in the championship and a significant points swing in Verstappen’s favour, but the moment could be coming back to bite him this weekend.
He received two penalty points for causing a collision with Norris during the race, which are still on his Super Licence today.
Some of Verstappen’s penalty points expire after Austria, but one more mistake would see him cross the all-important threshold.
Max Verstappen is dominant at the Red Bull Ring
As we approach the midway point of the season, the fight at the top of the World Drivers’ Championship table is heating up. However, Oscar Piastri and Norris, in the dominant McLaren, have begun to separate themselves.
Verstappen’s collision with George Russell in Spain was incredibly damaging to his title hopes, but he bounced back with a P2 in Canada to reclaim some of the ground lost to Championship leader Piastri.
| Position | Drivers' Championship | Points |
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | 198 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | 176 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | 155 |
| 4 | George Russell | 136 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 104 |
In his quest for a fifth-straight championship, Verstappen sits 43 points behind Piastri in the standings. Now he faces the pressure of his team’s home circuit, the Red Bull Ring, where, as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, he has delivered consistently over the years.
He holds the record for the most race wins at the circuit (four) and most pole positions (five). He’ll need to recapture that form to keep the McLarens within touching distance.