Verstappen Vows Pressure-Free Racing Amid Ban Risk

MONTREAL: Despite teetering on the edge of a one-race ban due to accumulated penalty points, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has declared his intention to compete ‘without pressure.’ A minor infraction at either the forthcoming Canadian Grand Prix or the Austrian Grand Prix could trigger his suspension from the subsequent race.

The Dutch driver’s contentious encounter with George Russell’s Mercedes during the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago resulted in an accumulation of 11 penalty points.

Verstappen acknowledged his error in a social media statement, expressing that his frustration led to ‘a maneuver that was incorrect and should not have occurred’ in the aftermath of the incident.

In Formula 1, regulations stipulate that drivers will face a race ban if they accrue 12 penalty points on their license within a 12-month period.

These points are valid for one year from the date they are issued. Penalties are imposed for incidents such as crashes or instances of excessively slow driving, with the quantity of points deducted being proportional to the severity of the offense.

Verstappen stated he will maintain his usual racing style, disregarding any pressure from the penalty points situation.

Verstappen’s Statements
  • “No, nothing changes. No [change in approach]. I cannot simply avoid every challenge. I intend to race as I always have, placing trust in my abilities. Is my current tally of 11 points justified? I’m uncertain. Nevertheless, life is often unfair,” Verstappen remarked.
  • “I’m unconcerned about it; my focus is solely on racing, and I will consistently push hard. Naturally, I’m not aiming to incur a ban. I don’t believe I need to delve into that, to be honest. What constitutes fairness?”
  • “If you consider it from that perspective, I remain unworried. I’m here to compete, and I will always race with intensity, adhering to my racing philosophy. Then, we’ll proceed to the next race.”

Verstappen currently holds third position in the F1 championship standings with 137 points, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris, who has 176 points.