Verstappen faces possible GP suspension in first half of 2025 season – Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time Formula One World Champion, finds himself in an unexpected predicament as he prepares to defend his title in the upcoming 2025 season. With eight penalty points on his FIA Super Licence, the Dutchman is dangerously close to the 12-point threshold that would result in an automatic one-race suspension.
This looming threat has not only caused concern among fans and pundits, but has also prompted rare public criticism from Red Bull Racing Special Advisor Helmut Marko, who is urging Verstappen to tread carefully in the early rounds of the season.
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Marko’s uncharacteristic warning to Verstappen
Helmut Marko, a long-time supporter and mentor of Verstappen, is usually known for his glowing praise of the Dutchman. However, following Verstappen’s penalty-laden performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Marko decided to speak out publicly about his star driver’s behaviour.
The controversy began when Verstappen collided with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the start of the Abu Dhabi GP, earning himself a 10-second time penalty.
After the race, Verstappen was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the stewards’ decision, which Marko described as “not very diplomatic”.
Speaking to *Sky Deutschland*, Marko said: “He took another two points and is now on eight, so we have to be careful…
“Some stewards give harsher punishments, but it’s a problem everyone has and it was mentioned that more consistency would be better.”
While Verstappen’s criticism may have been born out of frustration, it has raised questions about how the reigning champion manages his emotions both on and off the track. The penalty points from Abu Dhabi have put him in a precarious position for the first half of the 2025 season, where even minor infractions could lead to a race ban.
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How the FIA penalty point system works
The FIA’s penalty point system, introduced in 2014, is designed to ensure fair play and promote safer driving in Formula One. Penalty points are awarded for a range of infractions, including collisions, track limit violations and unsportsmanlike behaviour.
If a driver accumulates 12 points within a rolling 12-month period, he is automatically excluded from the next scheduled race.
Verstappen currently has eight penalty points, two of which were added after his collision with Piastri in Abu Dhabi. These points will remain on his record until 30 June 2025, the day after the Austrian Grand Prix. This means that Verstappen will have to navigate the first 11 races of the 2025 season without adding more than four points to his tally – a difficult task for a driver known for his aggressive style.
The penalty point system has rarely been used to its full potential. To date, only one driver has been suspended under this rule: Kevin Magnussen. At the start of 2024, the Danish driver exceeded the 12-point limit, forcing Haas to replace him with Oliver Bearman for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Bearman, who had also filled in for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz when he suffered from appendicitis earlier in the year, became one of the few drivers to race for two teams in a single season.
Fernando Alonso also at risk
Max Verstappen is not the only driver walking a tightrope. F1 veteran Fernando Alonso, currently with Aston Martin, also finds himself with eight penalty points on his Super Licence.
Like Verstappen, Alonso must tread carefully to avoid breaching the 12-point threshold that could see him miss a race in 2025.
For Alonso, a suspension would be a blow to his hopes of maintaining competitive momentum in what many speculate could be one of his final seasons in F1. But the stakes are arguably even higher for Verstappen, who is not only defending his championship but is at the heart of Red Bull Racing’s efforts to continue their dominance in the sport.
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The high stakes for Verstappen
If Verstappen were to accumulate 12 points ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, he would make history as the first reigning world champion to be excluded from a race under the points system. It is a record that Verstappen and Red Bull Racing would undoubtedly prefer to avoid, as such an incident could disrupt the team’s rhythm and open the door for rivals to capitalise on his absence.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Verstappen seemed to take a humorous approach to the matter over the weekend in Abu Dhabi. Announcing that he and his partner Kelly Piquet are expecting a baby, the Dutchman joked about his penalty points: “Yeah, maybe I’ll go up to 12 [points] when the baby is born”.
While the comment was made in jest, it underlines the unique pressures Verstappen faces as both a champion and a high-profile figure in F1.
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Stewards’ inconsistencies under scrutiny
The penalties Verstappen received in Abu Dhabi have reignited debates about the consistency of stewards’ decisions in Formula One. Helmut Marko, echoing the sentiments of many drivers and teams, has called for greater consistency in the way penalties are handed out at different races.
*Some stewards give harsher punishments,” Marko noted.
“It’s a problem that everyone has, and it was mentioned that more consistency would be better.”
This lack of standardisation has long been a bone of contention in Formula One. Drivers often feel that similar incidents are treated differently depending on the race or the team involved, leading to frustration and, at times, resentment. For Verstappen, avoiding penalties will require not only disciplined driving, but also a degree of luck in how incidents are adjudicated.
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Red Bull’s strategy for managing the threat
For Red Bull Racing, the prospect of their star driver missing a race is a scenario they will work hard to avoid. The team is likely to take a conservative approach in the early part of the season, urging Verstappen to prioritise clean racing and minimise risk.
Team principal Christian Horner and Helmut Marko will also need to closely monitor Verstappen’s interactions with officials and the media to ensure he avoids any behaviour that could lead to additional penalties.
However, balancing caution with competitiveness will be a delicate task. Verstappen’s aggressive style is a hallmark of his success and dialing it back too much could affect his performance. Finding the right balance will be crucial for both Verstappen and Red Bull as they look to defend their titles in 2025.
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A season of high stakes and uncertainty
As the 2025 season approaches, Verstappen’s penalty-point situation adds an extra layer of intrigue to what promises to be another thrilling year in Formula One. With 11 races to go before his points expire, every decision made on the track and every interaction with the officials will take on added significance.
For fans, Verstappen’s predicament is a reminder of the fine margins that define success in Formula One. For the reigning champion, it’s a challenge that will test his ability to adapt, maintain discipline and continue to perform at the highest level under pressure.
Whether Verstappen can avoid the ignominy of a race suspension and successfully defend his title remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the opening races of the 2025 season will be watched with bated breath by fans and competitors alike.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
For many years I have been one of the greatest fun of F1 but with so many rules and regulations penalties for this and tha,t it’s quickly killing the this sport, I am not alone, many of my friends have stopped watching F1 on tv which is a great shame.