Latest news with #SuperLicense
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen Warned to Tone It Down or Risk Ban at Austrian GP
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that Max Verstappen must avoid attracting more penalty points to his Super License in the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen remains just one point away from a race ban, and thus, committing an offense in Montreal could result in a race ban in Austria. Three penalty points were added to the four-time world champion's Super License during the Spanish Grand Prix for crashing into George Russell. A potential race ban could further diminish Verstappen's chances of securing the championship this season. At present, he sits in third place in the Drivers' Championship with 137 points, 49 adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri. An F1 driver faces a race ban if he receives 12 points on his Super License in one calendar year. With Verstappen's tally now at 11, Marko has cautioned that a potential violation in the next Grand Prix could see Verstappen miss out on the race in Austria. Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing answers questions in the media pen during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 1, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing answers questions in the media pen during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 1, 2025 in Barcelona, back at the race in Barcelona, Verstappen could have avoided the three penalty points if he hadn't crashed into Russell after the safety car restart. What added to Verstappen's frustration was that Red Bull fitted his RB21 F1 car with new hard tires during the safety car pit stop, which made it difficult for him to get them up to temperature. Revealing the events that mounted a series of challenges for Verstappen, eventually leading to the penalty points and a 10-second time penalty, Marko explained in his Speedweek Column: "First, he was given the hard tire even though he didn't want it. Then, on the first lap, there was this swerve that almost sent him flying. Next, Leclerc drove into the side of his car at a good 300 km/h. That was completely overlooked and very dangerous. "This naturally made the atmosphere tense. Finally, there was the incident with Russell. And Max, who knows the regulations very well, said he didn't have to give up his position. But he was told he had to give it back. That was a lot of bitter pills to swallow. On top of that, Russell isn't exactly his best friend. "Now he can't commit any offenses over the next two race weekends, and of course, he'll be told not to do anything rash. It would be a catastrophe if he couldn't start in Austria. But we don't expect that to happen, because it's certainly not the case that Max does something wrong in every race. After Austria, the first penalty points will be removed."
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Insider Admits Max Verstappen Error Behind Crash with Russell
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko has opened up on the highly controversial incident involving Max Verstappen and George Russell in the final laps of the Spanish Grand Prix. Describing the error, Marko said the crash was a result of "misjudgment" by Verstappen. The four-time world champion chased the two McLarens in P3, but switching to hard tires during a late safety car proved to be a disastrous decision. Verstappen struggled for traction after the safety car restart, which caused Charles Leclerc to pass him at Turn 1. George Russell took advantage of the situation as well, but sensing a crash, Verstappen took the exit road in the run-off area at the same corner and rejoined the track behind Leclerc and in front of Russell. Anticipating a penalty, Red Bull asked him to hand over P4 to Russell, which made Verstappen furious, but he gave up the position eventually. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Verstappen made contact with Russell's Mercedes soon after, for which he received a ten-second penalty and three points on his Super License from the FIA stewards. The penalty meant the Dutchman finished the race in P10. Fortunately, there was only minor damage to both cars, and Russell was able to cross the finish line in fourth. While Verstappen admitted on Instagram that his actions were a result of frustration, Marko has revealed his thoughts on the crash. Speaking to Servus TV, as quoted by ESPN, he said: "Max then suddenly accelerated again and then all hell broke loose. That was a serious misjudgment. "He was already at odds with Russell. With incidents and bad decisions, emotions have run high. "Sleeping on it certainly helped. Everyone goes their own way. When Max is in that mood, it's better to leave him alone." He added: "The punishment is appropriate. It won't happen that he behaves badly in Canada and then doesn't start in Austria. He's a racer who knows his limits." Addressing the race weekend in Barcelona and the RB21's performance, Marko said: "The whole weekend was sobering for us. Basically, we were three tenths behind with a car that was too slow. We thought we were on a par. We saw again that McLaren is vastly superior. "We hope that our car will be competitive again in Canada. At the moment, Max Verstappen does not have a car with which he can become world champion. "But only he can cope with it at all at the moment. If everything fits, we'll be just as fast as McLaren. "But that's only every third or fourth race. McLaren is always there. We're not giving up yet, but it's going to be difficult."
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Red Bull Slams FIA's Lack of Response After Verstappen–Russell Controversy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has targeted Formula One's governing body, the FIA, and its race director, Rui Marques, for the lack of clarity on regulations. An incident between Max Verstappen and George Russell in the final stage of the Spanish Grand Prix sparked controversy, prompting Horner to address the challenge. Verstappen held third spot in Barcelona until a safety car period pushed him to swap to hard tires due to the unavailability of other options. The rival drivers, meanwhile, were on soft tires. This put the four-time world champion in a tricky situation, and his frustration was evident over the team radio. Verstappen struggled for traction after the safety car restart, leading Charles Leclerc to overtake him at Turn 1. George Russell, who was sat behind Leclerc, also tried to gain an advantage by squeezing himself on the inside line, but that led to contact with Verstappen. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, avoid major damage, Verstappen took the exit road and found himself behind Leclerc and in front of Russell. Fearing a penalty for gaining an advantage off the race track, Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase asked him to give back P4 to Russell. After much protest, Verstappen gave in to his team's demands, but soon after Russell passed him, Verstappen took the inside line and made contact with the Mercedes. While the damage wasn't severe, the incident raised eyebrows. The FIA handed Verstappen a 10-second penalty, leading him to finish the race in P10. Three penalty points were also added to his Super License, and now he remains just one point away from a potential race ban. After the race, Horner explained the logic behind handing back the place to Russell and also addressed the need for clarity pertaining to the rules. He told the media: "He was obviously upset because, first of all, he had Leclerc take a swipe at him on the straight, and then he's got dive bombed at Turn 1 by George. "The way that these regulations are, it's all about where that front axle is. The drivers know the rules, and they're the rules that they're playing to. "Now, the argument is, was George under control at that point in time? Would he have made the corner? It was 50-50. He looked like he would have made it. "We've seen so many occasions this year where penalties have been given. We've seen it noted, it's gone to the stewards, and the next thing is, you're expecting to get a penalty. "That's why it was, 'Okay, we're going to have to give this place up'." He added: "That's where it would be nice, as the referee, as a race director, to either say, 'Play on', or 'You need to give it [the place] back'. "I think it's very hard for the team, subjectively, to try and make that call because you're going on historical precedents. You're looking at what you have in front of you, and you're trying to preempt what the stewards and the race director are thinking. "It would be beneficial to the teams, in that instance, for the race director to make that call and say, 'You either give it back or you get a penalty', rather than having to try and second-guess what the stewards are going to do." When Horner was asked about the race director's response when he was approached for clarity, he said: "You get nothing back. You ask the question, but you get nothing back." Horner didn't hold back, stating that the matter would be taken up with the Sporting Advisory Committee. He said: "It's something that should be discussed in the SAC."
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Fires Back at Schumacher Over Verstappen Exit Clause Comments
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has hit back at former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher for his comments on Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix. Schumacher criticized the four-time world champion for the incident with George Russell and suggested that he was looking to activate an exit clause in his Red Bull contract that would pave the way to his exit from the team. There has been much talk about Verstappen leaving Red Bull in the past few seasons, especially considering his interest in other forms of motorsports and the challenges he faced with the RB21. An incident during the race in Barcelona last weekend prompted Schumacher to suggest a theory that could see Verstappen part ways with the Milton Keynes outfit. The race saw the 27-year-old driver maintain a healthy third position in the final leg of the race, but the safety car led him to switch to the only tires he had left - hard tires. This proved to be a huge disadvantage, especially since the other cars were running on soft tires. Verstappen struggled for traction as soon as the race resumed, leading Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to capitalize on the situation and secure the last spot on the podium. Russell also tried his best to pass Verstappen at Turn 1, but made contact in the process. Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit... Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. MoreIn response, Verstappen swerved into the run-off area and got back on the track in front of Russell and behind Leclerc. Soon after, Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase advised him to hand the position back to Russell. Verstappen appeared furious on the team radio but adhered to the request. However, he made contact with Russell soon after he was allowed to overtake. This move caused a significant uproar. The FIA stewards penalized Verstappen with a ten-second penalty and added three penalty points to his Super License. The time penalty meant he finished the race in P10, scoring just a single point. The incident garnered considerable attention, and several pundits, including Schumacher, criticized Verstappen for his actions. Speaking to Sky Deutschland, he said: "His behavior is a pity, he doesn't need that as a four-time world champion. "I don't know what got into him. It is clear that frustration is on the way, but that should not be the case. I think he realised today that it's not going as hoped and that the update didn't work so well." Revealing Verstappen's Red Bull exit theory, Schumacher added: "You have to pay attention to why things like this happen and why he gets an unnecessary penalty if there is a clause. "It's a critical phase." Responding to Schumacher's comments, Horner dismissed his theory. He told BILD: "This theory is the biggest nonsense possible. I haven't heard anything so stupid for a long time. "Max is a racer through and through. He always wants to win and would never act like that."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
F1 driver penalty points after Max Verstappen's Spanish Grand Prix incident
After a thrilling Formula 1 triple-header, the grid has a chance to catch their collective breath before the next race weekend, the Canadian Grand Prix. And one driver has a chance to collect themselves after an eventful Spanish Grand Prix, a race that now has them at risk of a one-race suspension. Advertisement Max Verstappen was given both a ten-second penalty, and three penalty points, for an incident in the closing chapter of the Spanish Grand Prix. After being instructed by his team to give a place back to George Russell, Verstappen slowed down to let the Mercedes driver pass him, only to accelerate into Russell through a corner. Race officials handed down both a ten-second penalty and the penalty points after the race, putting Verstappen on the cusp of a suspension. Here are the current penalty points for the entire F1 grid, starting with Verstappen. What are FIA penalty points? Similar to your road driver's license, F1 drivers operate under an FIA Super License, which they can obtain based on results in the lower categories. Advertisement In an effort to promote safety on the track, and keep the drivers in line, penalty points on said Super License are among the potential penalties race stewards can hand out for infractions. Penalty points are reserved for the more severe incidents, such as causing an accident or violating rules regarding yellow and/or red flags. If a driver reaches 12 penalty points on their FIA Super License over a single calendar year period, they are hit with a one-race penalty ban. Last season Kevin Magnussen missed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after accumulating enough penalty points to trigger the one-race ban at the previous race, the Italian Grand Prix. Penalty points remain on a driver's Super License for one calendar year, after which they expire. What F1 drivers currently have penalty points? As the F1 schedule shifts into summer, several drivers have penalty points on their FIA Super License. Advertisement One of those drivers is the reigning Drivers' Champion, and the driver most at risk of a one-race ban. Note: Penalties are listed from oldest to newest. Max Verstappen 11 penalty points Max Verstappen is chasing his fifth consecutive F1 Drivers' Championship, but at the moment he is just one penalty point away from a one-race suspension. His oldest penalty points, received for a collision with Lando Norris at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, expire on June 30, 2025. That means Verstappen has to navigate the Canadian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix without incident to avoid a suspension. Two points: Verstappen's two oldest penalty points expire on June 30, 2025. These were handed down when race officials determined that Verstappen caused a collision with Lando Norris at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. Two points: Verstappen picked up two more points at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, when race officials ruled he forced Lando Norris off the track. Those expire on October 27, 2025. One point: Verstappen was given a one-point penalty at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, when he was below the minimum delta during a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) during the F1 Sprint Race. That point expires on November 1, 2025. One point: Verstappen was assessed a one-point penalty at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix when race officials determined he was driving unnecessarily slowly on the cooldown lap. That penalty point expires on December 1, 2025. Two points: Verstappen collided with Oscar Piastri on the opening lap of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and was hit with a two-point penalty. That expires on December 8, 2025. Three points: Verstappen was given a three-point penalty for causing a collision with George Russell during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. Those expire on June 1, 2026. Liam Lawson Six penalty points Liam Lawson began the year as Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull, but was dropped to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls after an ineffective start to the season. Advertisement He has also picked up some penalties along the way. Two points: Lawson was given a two-point penalty for causing a collision with Valtteri Bottas during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. Those points expire on December 1, 2025. One point: Lawson was given a one-point penalty for causing a collision with Lance Stroll at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. That expires on April 13, 2026. Two Points: Lawson also picked up another penalty at the Bahrain Grand Prix, this for two points, for causing a collision with Nico Hülkenberg. Those also expire on April 13, 2026. One Point: Lawson was given a one-point penalty for causing a collision with Fernando Alonso during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Nico Hülkenberg Four penalty points Veteran driver Nico Hülkenberg is coming off a stunning fifth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, and is set to see his oldest penalty points expire later this month. Two points: Hülkenberg was given a two-point penalty at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for causing a collision with Fernando Alonso. Those points expire on June 30, 2025. Two points: Hülkenberg was assessed a two-point penalty for causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. Those expire on December 1, 2025. Oscar Piastri Four penalty points Oscar Piastri currently leads the F1 Drivers' Championship race, but does have four penalty points on his FIA Super License. Two points: Piastri was hit with two penalty points when race officials ruled he caused a collision with Liam Lawson during the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix. Those points expire on November 2, 2025. Two points: Piastri was also judged to have caused a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and given a two-point penalty. Those points expire on December 8, 2025. Oliver Bearman Four penalty points Rookie Oliver Bearman began the year with two points on his FIA Super License, but has doubled that thanks to an incident at the Monaco Grand Prix. Two points: Bearman was given a two-point penalty for causing a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix. Those points expire on November 2, 2025. Two points: Bearman was given a two-point penalty for overtaking Carlos Sainz Jr. under red-flag conditions during practice at the Monaco Grand Prix. Lance Stroll Three penalty points Lance Stroll began the year with four penalty points, two of which expired in April. However, he picked up another point this year after an incident in FP1 at the Monaco Grand Prix, and is also dealing with an injury that caused him to withdraw from the Spanish Grand Prix. Advertisement Two points: Stroll was also hit with a two-point penalty for causing a collision with Alexander Albon at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. Those two points expire on December 1, 2025. One point: Stroll was given a one-point penalty after FP1 at the Monaco Grand Prix after a collision with Charles Leclerc. Lando Norris Three penalty points Lando Norris still has three points on his FIA Super License from an incident during last season's Qatar Grand Prix. Three points: Race officials ruled that Norris failed to slow down for a double yellow flag during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. In addition to a ten-second penalty — which dropped him out of P2 to the back of the field, although he recovered to finish tenth — he was given a three-point penalty. Those three points expire on December 1, 2025. Fernando Alonso Two penalty points Fernando Alonso began the year with eight points on his FIA Super License, but six of those have now expired. He only has two left on his Super License, which expire later this month. Two points: Alonso was ruled to have caused a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, and given a two-point penalty. Those points expire on June 30, 2025. Alexander Albon Two penalty points Two points: Alexander Albon was given a two-point penalty at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, when race officials ruled he caused a collision with Kevin Magnussen. Those points expire on December 1, 2025. Carlos Sainz Jr. Two penalty points Albon's new Williams teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. began the year with one penalty point, which expired at the beginning of May. However, he picked up two more this season, so he currently sits on two penalty points. Advertisement Two points: Sainz was given a two-point penalty in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix for an incident involving Kimi Antonelli, where he was judged to have forced the Mercedes rookie off the track. Franco Colapinto Two penalty points Franco Colapinto replaced Logan Sargeant midway through the 2024 campaign, and picked up a pair of penalty points last season. He is back in the car as another mid-season replacement, this time at Alpine. Two points: Colapinto was given a two-point penalty at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix for causing a collision with Liam Lawson. Those points expire on October 27, 2025. George Russell One penalty point Mercedes driver George Russell still has one penalty point on his FIA Super License from last season. One point: Russell was given a one-point penalty for failing to keep a proper distance behind the Safety Car during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. This expires on December 1, 2025. Esteban Ocon Three penalty points Similar to Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon has a new home for 2025 as he moves from Alpine to Haas. He will bring three penalty points with him to his new team. One point: During the F1 Sprint Race at the Miami Grand Prix, Ocon was given a one-point penalty for an unsafe release on pit lane. That point expires on May 4, 2025. Two points: Race officials determined that Ocon caused a collision with then-teammate Pierre Gasly on the opening lap of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix. Those two points will expire on May 26, 2025, and that incident may have doomed his tenure at Alpine. What F1 drivers still have a clean slate? As the schedule shifts into summer, several F1 drivers have a clean slate: Advertisement Kimi Antonelli Gabriel Bortoleto Esteban Ocon: Ocon began the year with three penalty points on his FIA Super License, all of which have now expired Pierre Gasly Lewis Hamilton Charles Leclerc Yuki Tsunoda Do any inactive drivers have penalty points outstanding ahead of 2025? There are also five drivers who may not be on the grid when 2025 begins, but have some points remaining on their FIA Super License that are yet to expire. Valtteri Bottas Five penalty points Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2025 F1 season. However, he has five points currently on his FIA Super License. Bottas is frequently mentioned as an option for the incoming Cadillac F1 Team. Three points: Bottas had a rather eventful Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He was given a three-point penalty for causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen. These three points expire on December 8, 2025. Two points: Bottas was given two more penalty points in Abu Dhabi, these for causing a collision with Sergio Pérez. These also expire on December 8, 2025. Jack Doohan Four penalty points Jack Doohan was replaced at Alpine by Franco Colapinto following the Monaco Grand Prix. At the moment he has four penalty points on his FIA Super License. Advertisement Two points: Doohan was given a two-point penalty for causing a collision with fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto during the F1 Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. These expire on March 22, 2026. Two points: The Chinese Grand Prix was an eventful weekend for Doohan, as he was given two more penalty points for forcing fellow rookie Isack Hadjar off the track during the Chinese Grand Prix. Those expire on March 23, 2026. Daniel Ricciardo One penalty point Fan favorite Daniel Ricciardo began the year with three penalty points on his FIA Super License, two of which have now expired.
