Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is edging closer to a potential one-race ban after receiving a penalty from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stewards for his involvement in a collision with Oscar Piastri.
The incident unfolded at the start of the race when Verstappen and Piastri went side-by-side into Turn 1. The Red Bull driver made contact with the left side of Piastri’s McLaren, causing both cars to spin and leaving Piastri at the back of the field.
While Verstappen managed to recover to 11th place in the early laps, the stewards reviewed the collision and deemed him entirely at fault. They ruled that Verstappen was not sufficiently alongside Piastri to attempt the move, resulting in a 10-second time penalty for causing the incident. Despite this setback, the Red Bull driver struggled with tire degradation throughout the race and ultimately finished in sixth place.
Commentating on the race for Sky Sports F1, Martin Brundle shared his perspective on the clash. He criticized Verstappen’s timing, describing the move as “too late” and agreeing with the stewards’ decision to penalize him.
The collision had significant repercussions for McLaren’s battle for the Constructors’ Championship. With Oscar Piastri’s chances effectively ended after the incident, the pressure shifted entirely onto Lando Norris. Norris needed to secure a victory to maintain McLaren’s hopes after Charles Leclerc staged an impressive charge from 19th to break into the top three.
While Martin Brundle acknowledged that Oscar Piastri may have left some space for Verstappen to attempt a move, he argued that the Red Bull driver misjudged the opportunity and fully deserved the penalty imposed by the stewards.
Brundle: “Piastri could’ve given him a touch more space, but would have he known he was there? It was a late lunge. Max really didn’t need to do that.
Croft: “When he says he was all the way up, he wasn’t…”
Brundle: “It was such a tight line, Verstappen also understeered. I mean, Piastri did open some space up.”
Max Verstappen faces the looming threat of a one-race ban in the early stages of the 2025 Formula 1 season. In addition to the 10-second time penalty he received during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the stewards added two penalty points to his FIA super licence. This brings his total to eight, leaving him just four points shy of the 12-point threshold that triggers an automatic race suspension.
Under FIA regulations, drivers are prohibited from accumulating more than 12 penalty points within a 12-month period. Earlier in the season, Kevin Magnussen became the first driver to breach this limit, resulting in his suspension from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Penalty points are not permanent; they expire 12 months after being issued. However, Verstappen will not see any of his current points erased until June 2025, putting him under considerable pressure to avoid further infractions during the opening rounds of the new season.
This situation means Verstappen must navigate the early races of 2025 with extreme caution. Any major incidents, penalties, or further rule violations could leave the Dutch driver sidelined for a Grand Prix, a scenario that would deal a significant blow to his and Red Bull’s championship aspirations.
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