Max Verstappen is walking a fine line in the 2025 Formula 1 season, now just one penalty point away from a race ban following a controversial incident with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
Late in the race, Verstappen found himself embroiled in a tense on-track battle with Russell’s Mercedes. The Red Bull driver was instructed by his race engineer to hand back fourth position after an earlier off-track excursion gave him a potential advantage. However, the situation escalated when Verstappen appeared to veer into Russell during the handover, sparking stewards’ attention.
The clash came in the aftermath of a chaotic Safety Car restart. Verstappen made a critical error coming out of the final corner, allowing Charles Leclerc to pass him. As the Dutchman rejoined the racing line, Russell also went on the attack, leading to multiple flashpoints at Turn 1 and Turn 5.
After reviewing the incident, the FIA stewards handed Verstappen three penalty points—pushing his current tally to 11. Under Formula 1 regulations, a driver who reaches 12 penalty points within a 12-month window is automatically handed a one-race suspension. That means Verstappen is now perilously close to sitting out a Grand Prix.
His points have accumulated over the past year, beginning with a high-profile collision with Lando Norris at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. Since then, the reigning world champion has been under increasing scrutiny for aggressive maneuvers.
Russell didn’t hold back in his post-race comments, saying, “No other driver on the grid would have made such a deliberate move.” His frustration mirrors a growing sentiment in the paddock that Verstappen’s driving is once again toeing the line between assertive and dangerous.
As the championship battle heats up, Verstappen’s potential suspension could have massive implications. One more misstep, and Red Bull may have to race without their lead driver—at a critical point in the season.
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