Verstappen on the verge of suspension with 11 points

Max Verstappen has accumulated 11 penalty points following intentional contact with George Russell in Barcelona. Any additional penalty of any kind would trigger an automatic one-race suspension, according to FIA regulations.

The incident occurred when Red Bull ordered Verstappen to yield position to Russell for gaining an advantage off-track. The three-time champion appeared to slow down at turn 5 but accelerated during the overtake, causing contact with the Mercedes.

Stewards analyzed telemetry, onboard footage, and radio communications. "The driver of car 1 was clearly displeased with his team's request to return the position," they stated in their official ruling. The 10-second penalty dropped Verstappen from fourth to tenth place.

Maximum risk until June 30 at Red Bull Ring

Verstappen can participate in Canada and Austria, but any infraction during those events would result in immediate suspension. The greatest danger comes during practice and qualifying at Red Bull Ring, scheduled for June 28-29.

His two oldest penalty points expire on June 30, 2025. These stem from the collision with Lando Norris in Austria 2024, when they made contact at turn 3 during the final laps of the grand prix.

After that date, Verstappen will retain nine active points until October. The next group of penalties expires on October 27, when two points received for pushing Norris off-track in Mexico will be cleared.

Isack Hadjar leads candidates to replace Verstappen

Hadjar tops Red Bull's internal alternatives to cover a potential absence. The French Racing Bulls driver has scored points in five of nine races so far, including a fifth-place qualifying performance in Monaco.

The Monaco result made Hadjar the first rookie to qualify fifth in the Principado since Lewis Hamilton in 2007. His rookie season shows consistent progress after a formation lap crash in wet conditions during Australia.

Liam Lawson is the second alternative, though his previous stint with Red Bull ended poorly. The New Zealander was sent back to Racing Bulls after two pointless races, being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after China.

Lawson scored his first point of the year in Monaco, where he acted as Hadjar's wingman to support the Frenchman's strategy. His prior experience with the RB20 gives him an advantage over external candidates.

Super License system monitors driver behavior

The FIA implemented the penalty points system in 2014 to monitor driver conduct over 12-month periods. Each serious infraction adds points that accumulate on the driver's Super License, the mandatory document for competing in Formula 1.

Penalties range from one point for minor infractions to three points for serious incidents like intentional collisions. Points remain active for exactly 12 months from the penalty date, not season's end.

When a driver reaches 12 points, they receive an automatic one-race suspension. There are no appeals available for this specific penalty, making it one of the few immediately enforceable sanctions in the sporting regulations.

Magnussen sets recent precedent for points suspension

Kevin Magnussen became the first driver suspended under the current system by accumulating 12 points before the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Haas driver had received penalties for various infractions during the previous season.

Magnussen's suspension activated Haas' emergency protocol, forcing them to use Oliver Bearman as reserve driver. The 19-year-old British driver completed the entire Azerbaijan weekend, from practice to Sunday's race.

The Magnussen case established the current precedent: suspension applies immediately upon reaching 12 points, regardless of the grand prix affected. The FIA considers no special circumstances for this specific penalty.

Lawson second in current penalty accumulation

Lawson has six points, all for causing collisions. His infractions include contact with Valtteri Bottas in Qatar 2024 and two separate incidents in Bahrain 2025 against Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg during the same session.

Oscar Piastri holds four points after crashes in Brazil and Abu Dhabi 2024. The Australian collided with Lawson at Interlagos and with Franco Colapinto at Yas Marina during the season finale.

Penalty points by driver - 2025 F1 Grid