Verstappen edges closer to race ban after Piastri shunt

Max Verstappen has inched closer to being issued a race ban following his clash with Oscar Piastri in Abu Dhabi.

Verstappen had a strong launch off the line and attempted to move up the inside of the McLaren driver into the opening corner.

However, the pair collided which sent both into a spin.

The duo were able to recover to the top 10 prior to the chequered flag, but Verstappen was deemed at fault for the incident.

The four-time world champion was handed a 10-second time penalty which he served during a pit stop. In addition, he was issued two penalty points, bringing his total to eight across the last 12 months.

Any driver who picks up 12 penalty points in that time period is handed an automatic race ban.

Kevin Magnussen was the first driver to serve a ban earlier this year under the system that first came into effect in 2014.

Verstappen does not lose points on his super licence until June of next year, having been involved in various incidents across the last 12 months.

It means Verstappen will have to avoid accumulating four penalty points in the opening 11 rounds next year to ensure he is not handed a ban.

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