June 11, 2025 – Montreal — Max Verstappen heads into the Canadian Grand Prix weekend under strained circumstances. He’s just one penalty point away—out of the 12-point limit—first-time suspension for accumulating too many infractions under FIA rules.
Why He’s Walking a Tightrope
- Verstappen drew three penalty points in Spain after a collision with George Russell, bringing his total up to 11 in the previous 12 months.
- He’s now under strict team orders from Red Bull: “don’t do anything rash” in Canada—where even a minor incident could trigger a one-race ban.
What the Team and Experts Say
- Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko framed the situation bluntly: adding just one more point “would be a disaster” and could rule Verstappen out of the Austrian GP—a home race.
- Meanwhile, pundits like Jolyon Palmer don’t expect Verstappen to suddenly mellow out—his aggressive edge remains intact, though he’ll need to tread carefully.
What to Watch at the Canadian GP
- Media spotlight: Verstappen’s demeanor and comments will be monitored closely—no room for foot-in-mouth penalties .
- On-track behavior: In traffic, especially at turn one, both he and his rivals must avoid scraping walls or shoestring maneuvers that could earn points.
- Penalty countdown: Two of Verstappen’s older points drop off June 30, but only after Canada and Austria—meaning he has both weekends to keep clean.
What Happens If He’s Banned?
- Verstappen would miss the Austrian Grand Prix, opening the door for reserve drivers like Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson from Red Bull’s feeder program.
- Such an absence could silence his title hopes—he is currently 49 points behind early leader Oscar Piastri—but the championship is still in motion .
In summary: Verstappen enters Canada walking a fine line—still racing in his trademark aggressive style, yet under strict instructions to avoid escalating the penalty risk. How he navigates this tightrope could shape his summer—and the championship fight.
Information from ESPN’s “How Verstappen ended up one penalty point away…,” Motorsport.com’s media-day preview, and Reuters’ “Verstappen needs to stay out of trouble in Canada” was used in this article.
