Max Verstappen’s chaotic weekend in Barcelona continues to haunt him, as the FIA confirmed the Dutchman was handed three penalty points for his controversial clash with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. This pushes his total to 11 penalty points within the last 12 months—just one short of the 12-point threshold that would result in an automatic one-race ban.
FIA regulations clearly state:
“Any driver who accumulates 12 penalty points in a 12-month period will be suspended from the next event, to be served during the following race weekend.”
This situation has placed Red Bull in an uncomfortable position heading into the Canadian Grand Prix, with the possibility that Verstappen could either be suspended or that the team might choose to pre-emptively sideline him to avoid further escalation.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has not ruled out the possibility of fielding a substitute driver, reportedly considering reserve and junior options should Verstappen’s penalty status become untenable before the weekend in Montreal.
Speaking after the Spanish GP, Lando Norris was quick to weigh in on the growing uncertainty:
“It’d be weird not to see Max in Canada,” Norris told reporters. “But if the rules say you’ve hit the limit, then that’s that. I’m sure Red Bull has someone fast on standby—though I doubt they’ll be much of a threat to us right now.”
Norris, who finished second behind teammate Oscar Piastri in a dominant McLaren 1-2 in Spain, also joked about Verstappen’s growing frustration.
“He’s been pushing hard, maybe too hard. But I get it—when you’re chasing us, mistakes can creep in,” Norris quipped.
The FIA is expected to monitor Verstappen’s conduct closely during practice sessions in Canada. One additional infraction—whether during qualifying, the race, or even outside of competition—could trigger a historic race ban, making Verstappen only the second driver since Romain Grosjean in 2012 to be penalized in such fashion.
All eyes now turn to Montreal, where the high-stakes drama of the 2025 season continues.