Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has declared that he will not alter his aggressive driving style, even though he sits just four penalty points away from a race ban.
The Dutchman begins the year with eight points on his super license, knowing that reaching 12 triggers an automatic one-race suspension, a fate that Haas drivers endured last season when Kevin Magnussen became the first to fall foul of the system at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s next batch of penalty points isn’t due to expire until after the Austrian Grand Prix in June, leaving the reigning champion to navigate 11 races and two sprint events with the threat looming large.
Should the Red Bull driver accrue four more points, Verstappen would make unwanted history as the first world champion banned from a Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher, suspended for two races in 1994, hadn’t yet claimed a title at the time.
Speaking ahead of the season opener, Verstappen shrugged off suggestions of tweaking his approach. “No, but I’ve been there before,” he said when asked if he’d adjust his on-track tactics.
“I think I’ve been on nine or ten (points) before, so it’s all about just managing the situation.” His calm defiance reflects a driver confident in his ability to toe the line without crossing it.
The timing of Verstappen’s personal life adds another twist. With his partner Kelly Piquet expecting their first child this summer, questions arose about whether a ban might conveniently align with family duties. Verstappen laughed off the idea. “I mean, I cannot miss a race unless I have too many points or for swearing, anything is possible,” he said.
“But in F1, that doesn’t exist, I cannot take two months off. If [the birth happens during a grand prix weekend], it happens, right? There’s nothing I can do about it. Unfortunately, F1 drivers don’t get time off. But at the same time, I’m also not the one that is giving birth, right?”
The Red Bull drivers will face their first test of the season at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix on March 16, where 58 laps of Melbourne’s 5.278-kilometre Albert Park circuit await.
For Verstappen, it’s not just about chasing another title, it’s about racing on the edge, as he always has. Fans will be watching closely to see if the Milton Keynes-based squad can keep their talisman in the fight without tipping into suspension territory.
