With 11 penalty points, Max Verstappen must now approach on-track battles carefully or risk suspension during the crucial title fight.
Former F1 steward for the FIA, Johnny Herbert, believes Max Verstappen will need to drive with greater restraint over the next two races.
The Red Bull driver currently has 11 penalty points and will only drop to 9 — still a significant number — after the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix.
For the Briton, this will inevitably affect how Verstappen approaches his wheel-to-wheel battles on track.
“You have to think about penalty points. One point can come from a simple misjudgement. Should a driver in this situation now think differently? Yes!”
“Max Verstappen, however, is not an ordinary driver; he is a four-time world champion who has also proven his skill in close battles.”
“Max Verstappen is the smartest driver on the grid.”
“His ability to exploit the rules to his advantage is unmatched. He has such mental strength that he can push the limits, but now he has to be a smart driver. It’s about time.”
Verstappen currently holds third place in the Drivers’ Championship, with over half the season left to close the 49-point gap to leader Oscar Piastri.
That is why, Herbert explains, “Verstappen will keep aiming for the title. He keeps winning races and taking pole positions. He is therefore in a strong position so that, if the McLaren drivers have a poor weekend, he’s well placed to win both the race and the championship.”
“That missing penalty point that would trigger suspension will stay in his memory; it won’t change how he drives, but he will have to be careful in a duel.”
“For years, Verstappen was the hunted, but now that he’s the hunter, he will need to be a bit more measured. Those small moments of aggression will need to be controlled.”
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