Verstappen takes defiant stance as F1 ban looms

Max Verstappen insists he will not change his driving style, despite coming close to accumulating enough points on his FIA super licence to be banned for a round of the 2025 F1 season.

The Dutchman must navigate the opening 11 weekends on the calendar without racking up four more penalty points, after a flurry were handed down to him towards the end of his fourth drivers’ title campaign.

The Red Bull driver will not have points removed from his licence until after the Austrian Grand Prix, when the ban risk imposed upon on him will be somewhat alleviated.

Two points will be deducted from his slate on 30th June 2025, the day after the round at the Red Bull Ring, meaning he will still have to avoid picking up penalties over the weekend in Spielberg.

The FIA stewards – and much of the F1 paddock – took a dim view of his driving standards over the latter half of the 2024 season, as he fought to retain his championship advantage over the encroaching Lando Norris.

Whilst he and Red Bull ultimately had enough in the tank to hold off the British driver, the team fell to third in the constructors’ standings and looks unlikely to start 2025 leading the F1 field.

That honour will most probably fall to McLaren or Ferrari, after both teams ended last term atop the constructors’ standings – and with the strongest packages.

Therefore, Verstappen faces a difficult task in successfully defending his drivers’ crown as he looks to match Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive championships. It is a feat that 2021 adversary Lewis Hamilton was not able to achieve through the years of Mercedes dominance.

Winning the title already looks to be a tall order, but in pursuit of that crown, Verstappen may find himself stuck between having to adopt a less aggressive driving style – something that has served him well in the past – or risk having to sit out a round in the heat of battle.

Nonetheless, the 63-time grand prix winner has no plans to abandon his racing principles and take a more passive approach over the first part of the season.

“We could discuss some of the penalties and points here for hours,” the 27-year-old told Blick. “Like [Fernando] Alonso, I already have eight penalty points.

“But I’m not going to change my driving style because of that.”