Why Is Max Verstappen On the Verge Of a Race Ban? | June 6

Right now, Max Verstappen is skating on thin ice in Formula 1. He’s sitting on 11 penalty points on his FIA Super License. If he racks up just one more, he’ll be automatically suspended for a race. That is the rule: 12 points within 12 months equals a one-race ban, no questions asked.

Max Verstappen’s latest penalty came after a messy run-in with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, which earned him three more points and shoved him right to the edge of the danger zone. It’s the kind of situation that has both Max Verstappen fans and the Red Bull Racing team feeling a little nervous.

Here’s where it gets even more intense. If Max Verstappen picks up just a single point at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, he won’t be allowed to race in the next round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. That’s Red Bull’s home turf. It’s a huge event for the team, not just sport-wise, but symbolically too. Team advisor Helmut Marko called the potential suspension a “disaster,” pointing to the loss of momentum, fan disappointment, and, frankly, the blow to team pride.

Red Bull Urges Caution To Avoid Max Verstappen Race Ban

With the stakes sky-high, Red Bull isn’t taking any chances. Team leadership has made it clear to Max Verstappen. Don’t do anything reckless. They’re urging caution, especially in Canada and Austria, two races that fall within the tightest window of risk. After June 30, things ease up a bit as some of Max Verstappen’s older penalty points will expire (including ones from an incident with Lando Norris at last year’s Austrian GP).

But until that clock runs out, even a minor misjudgment could take Max Verstappen out of action, not just for Austria, but possibly even the British Grand Prix, depending on how things play out.

This situation has turned into one of the more dramatic storylines of the F1 season, not because of on-track performance, but due to a quiet accumulation of points that now hangs over everything. Fans are debating whether the penalty system is too harsh, but the FIA isn’t budging. To them, it’s all about safety and fairness.

One Race Out Could Shake Up the Championship

Max Verstappen is the engine that keeps Red Bull’s championship push humming. If he’s forced to sit out even one race, that opens the door for rivals like Ferrari or Mercedes to pounce. Momentum shifts fast in F1. A single missed weekend could turn into a serious problem in the standings.

Red Bull’s already working on backup plans. That includes having a substitute driver ready (though no one fills Verstappen’s shoes) and maybe tweaking their race strategies. But nothing quite replaces Max’s fierce consistency and the aggressive edge he brings every time he hits the track.

Helmut Marko sounded cautiously optimistic when asked about the team’s mindset. “We believe Max will maintain his composure,” he said. “He understands the stakes, especially with Austria being so important to our team and our fans.”

Still, the pressure is very real behind the scenes. Engineers, strategists, PR folks, they’re all laser-focused on making sure Verstappen doesn’t cross that final line into suspension territory.

Can Verstappen Keep His Cool?

So what happens now? The Canadian Grand Prix is next, and every eye in the paddock will be on Verstappen. Can he dial it back enough to avoid trouble? Or will his ultra-competitive nature put him at risk again? This is a guy who thrives on the edge, but now that edge has turned into a trap. Red Bull’s made it clear. No unnecessary risks, no questionable overtakes. Get through Canada and Austria clean, and then breathe a little easier after June 30 when the points drop off.

Until then, Verstappen is racing under a microscope. Every decision, every aggressive maneuver, every dive into a corner, one wrong move, and he could be out.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about Verstappen missing a race. It’s about how razor-thin the margins are in modern F1. How off-track rules can impact on-track drama, and how even the most dominant driver in the world can find himself at the mercy of a rulebook. For Verstappen, the next two weekends could shape the entire 2025 title fight. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from watching Verstappen over the years, it’s this. Pressure makes him sharper, but this time, there’s no room for error.