Max Verstappen`s incident with George Russell in Spain has placed him on the cusp of an automatic one-race suspension from Formula 1.
The Red Bull driver received a 10-second time penalty for colliding with the side of Russell`s car during the final laps of the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen later commented on Instagram that the incident `wasn`t right` and `shouldn`t have happened.`
A potentially more significant consequence, however, came from the stewards` decision: three penalty points were added to his FIA super licence. This brings his total to 11 points accumulated over the past 12 months, leaving him just one point shy of the 12-point limit that triggers an automatic race ban.
This situation means Verstappen, known for his aggressive, all-or-nothing driving style, must exercise caution at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix and Red Bull`s home race, the Austrian Grand Prix, two weeks later. Fortunately for him, two of his penalty points will expire on June 30th, providing a buffer of three points from a ban in time for the British Grand Prix.
This specific rule has previously resulted in a driver missing a race. Kevin Magnussen was banned from last year`s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after reaching 12 points, with Oliver Bearman stepping in as his replacement.
Penalty points are assigned based on the severity and circumstances of each incident. However, different stewards at different events mean there can be variations in interpreting regulations and accounting for mitigating circumstances. Regardless, Verstappen`s transgression in Spain has left him with no margin for error. Even a relatively minor issue could now lead to a suspension.
Here are the types of offences that could potentially cost him a race start:
Causing a Collision
This is the most frequent type of infringement leading to penalty points, occurring when stewards determine one driver is clearly responsible for a crash with another. Verstappen`s contentious move on Russell in Spain fell into this category and was deemed worthy of the maximum penalty available to stewards for a single incident: three points.
While intent wasn`t definitively proven and Verstappen didn`t explicitly admit to doing it on purpose, there is a precedent for such incidents. Sebastian Vettel received the same penalty in 2017 for driving alongside Lewis Hamilton and swerving into him at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. In that instance, where intent seemed slightly clearer, stewards described Vettel`s action as `potentially dangerous,` although this description was not used in the Verstappen/Russell verdict.
Four of Verstappen`s other penalty points stem from `causing a collision`:
- Two penalty points for his clash with Lando Norris while battling for the lead at the Austrian Grand Prix.
- Two penalty points for colliding with Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, spinning the McLaren driver with an overly ambitious lunge.
Verstappen`s former teammate, Liam Lawson, is notably high in this category, with all six of his penalty points resulting from causing collisions. For example, he received two points for spinning Valtteri Bottas at last year`s Qatar Grand Prix. Even his immediate admission of fault and acknowledging the move was clumsy didn`t prevent the stewards from issuing the points.
Forcing Another Driver Off Track
This is another area where Verstappen has frequently tested the boundaries of the rules. Given Canada`s track layout with numerous overtaking opportunities and a history of dramatic races, this feels like a potential risk point this weekend.
Another two of Verstappen`s points were incurred in this category during his controversial battles with Lando Norris at last year`s Mexico City Grand Prix. While racing for position, Verstappen forced Norris wide twice, resulting in two separate 10-second penalties during the race itself, in addition to the penalty points.
These penalties can be issued swiftly. Nico Hulkenberg experienced this during Austria`s sprint race last year when he locked up and understeered through Turn 1, forcing Fernando Alonso wide. He received two penalty points for this.
Given Verstappen`s characteristic aggressive approach to racing, the Red Bull pit wall will likely be tense whenever the Dutchman is in close proximity to another car over the next two weekends. However, infractions away from wheel-to-wheel combat could also push him over the edge.
Leaving the Track and Gaining an Advantage
Although this often results in an in-race penalty, steward guidelines typically suggest a 10-second penalty with zero penalty points. This has been the standard practice in most recent cases. However, Kevin Magnussen received three points towards his ban after being penalised three times for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix.
The Haas driver repeatedly left the track while trying to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him to protect points for his teammate Hulkenberg. On the third instance, the stewards felt it necessary to issue both a 10-second penalty and three penalty points.
“This was the third instance of Car 20 leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage,” stated the stewards` report. “We considered the penalty guidelines for such infringements which provide a baseline of a 10-second penalty with zero penalty points. However, the guidelines also state: `The points indicated are intended to be the norm for a particular offence. The stewards may vary these, taking into account mitigating or aggravating circumstances. However, the authority of the Stewards to increase the points assessed is intended to be used only in exceptional circumstances.`”
“Taking into account the fact that this was the third instance of leaving the track and gaining an advantage in a single session, which we considered to be an aggravating circumstance, we impose three penalty points.`”
Infringements Under Yellow or Red Flags
Lando Norris still has three penalty points on his licence for speeding under double-waved yellow flags, caught out in a memorable moment at last year`s Qatar GP. During a tense battle with Verstappen, the McLaren driver failed to slow sufficiently when required. The observant Verstappen noticed this and radioed his Red Bull team to follow up with the FIA.
Overtaking under both yellow and red flags is also forbidden. Oliver Bearman learned this in Monaco this year when he passed Carlos Sainz under red flags during Friday practice. The Haas driver argued it was safer not to brake abruptly, but the stewards disagreed, handing him a 10-place grid drop and two penalty points.
Driving Unnecessarily Slowly
One of Verstappen`s 11 penalty points was incurred for driving excessively slowly during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix. This rule aims to prevent dangerous speed differentials between cars on hot laps and those on preparation laps. It is rarely enforced strictly, as mitigating circumstances usually explain a driver being above the maximum permitted delta time.
However, in Verstappen`s specific case, he impeded Russell, who was also preparing for a qualifying lap. As a result, Verstappen was penalised one place on the grid and received a penalty point. This incident sparked an ongoing dispute between the two drivers, with Russell alleging that Verstappen threatened to “put my f***ing head in the wall” after they left the stewards` office.
Dominic Ashworth