Max Verstappen has earned slightly more breathing room after the removal of two penalty points from his superlicence following the Austrian Grand Prix.
However, the reigning world champion is still facing the threat of a race ban with nine points remaining on his licence.
After his Spanish Grand Prix collision with George Russell, Verstappen was handed three penalty points by the stewards, taking him to 11 for the 12-month period with 12 needed for an automatic one-race ban.
With the next set due to come off on Monday, 30 June, the day after the Austrian GP, it meant Verstappen had to navigate the Canadian and Austrian GPs penalty-free to avoid the ignominy of becoming the first world champion to be banned from a race.
Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, and Nigel Mansell all earned race bans before they became world champion.
Fortunately, for Verstappen, he got through Canada penalty-free, and then was taken out at Turn 3 by Kimi Antonelli, meaning he will not be banned for the British Grand Prix.
This is because the two penalty points he earned for causing a collision with Lando Norris at the 2024 Austrian GP have now been scrubbed from his record, dropping him to nine penalty points.
However, it does mean that if there is a repeat of the Russell incident between now and the Mexico City Grand Prix in October, Verstappen could be banned.
Check out the full list of driver penalty points, updated after the Austrian Grand Prix here.
Max Verstappen - penalty points
Two points - expire October 27th, 2025. For forcing Lando Norris off-track during the 2024 Mexico City GP.
One point - expires November 1st, 2025. For being under the VSC minimum delta in Sao Paulo GP sprint.
One point - expires December 1st, 2025. For driving unnecessarily slowly on qualifying cooldown lap at Qatar GP.
Two points - expire December 8th, 2025. For causing a collision with Oscar Piastri in 2024 Abu Dhabi GP.
Three points - expire June 1st, 2026. For causing a collision with George Russell in 2025 Spanish GP.
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back at the Austrian GP but also take a look ahead to Silverstone. Max Verstappen's title chances are a lead discussion, as is whether Lando Norris can for the first time this year secure back-to-back wins.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!