Max Verstappen faces ban in 2025 if he collects more penalties
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Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (left) driving on after a collision with McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on Dec 8.
PHOTO: AFP
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ABU DHABI – Newly crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen faces a ban in 2025 if he collects four more penalty points on his super licence following his crash at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec 8.
The Dutchman attempted to pass McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on turn 1 on the opening lap of the race, but crashed into his rival’s car, sending them both spinning.
The accident could have been disastrous for McLaren, who were fighting Ferrari for the constructors’ title. But they emerged on top thanks to Lando Norris winning from pole position.
Verstappen and Piastri recovered to join the race before the former was given a 10-second penalty and two points on his licence, taking him to eight in the last 12 months. If he reaches 12 within a year, he will be given an automatic one-race ban.
For Verstappen, who finished sixth at the Yas Marina Circuit, this means he must avoid penalties in the opening 11 races next season.
“Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. “I’m just happy that the season is over.
“For me, the most important thing that I had to do was just apologise to Oscar. Because I had nothing to gain, nothing to lose. I went for it. It didn’t work out. And especially also for him, that we both spun. It’s not nice.
“He’s a friend of mine, so I don’t want to have any weird feelings or whatever going into the break.”
Verstappen has been locked in an acrimonious verbal feud with Mercedes’ George Russell since the Nov 29-Dec 1 Qatar Grand Prix, with the pair swopping insults following a clash in qualifying.
“I don’t understand anything any more, but it’s fine, whatever,” said Verstappen who is expecting his first child with Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet.
“I’m not going to get angry about stuff like that.”
He added with a smile that “maybe I go to 12 when the baby is born, so it’s paternity leave”.
Before the 27-year-old goes away, though, Verstappen will serve a penalty for swearing when he visits Rwanda next week to collect his winner’s trophy, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Dec 8.
Verstappen, who secured his fourth successive championship in Las Vegas in November, was ordered to do “work of public interest” after swearing during a Singapore Grand Prix press conference in September.
The FIA’s prize-giving gala is in Kigali next week, a first for the governing body.
It said after the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP that the Red Bull driver “would undertake some work with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club”.
Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi race marked the end of Lewis Hamilton’s stay with Mercedes.
“We dreamt a lot, but together we believed,” the seven-time world champion said, after finishing fourth in the season-ender.
“Thank you for all the courage, the determination, the passion and everything in supporting me. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books. We did everything together and I’m so, so grateful to everyone.”
The 39-year-old Briton performed some smoking “doughnut” spins for the crowd on the finish straight and then got out, huddled by the car and kissed it.
His 12 years at Mercedes brought them six drivers’ titles, eight constructors’ championships, 84 wins, 78 poles and 153 podium finishes.
His own records extend well beyond that, with a first title for McLaren in 2008 – the team also powered by Mercedes – and his personal tally of wins at 105.
Team boss Toto Wolff told Hamilton he would always be part of the family.
“Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,” he said after the finish, assuring the driver that Mercedes would be cheering for him on those occasions when they could not win.
Also bowing out was Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, with “bittersweet” feelings after one final appearance on the podium.
The Spaniard, who finished second ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, will be testing with Williams on Dec 10 as he starts a new chapter of his career.
“I knew that was obviously going to be my last race with a group of people that I’ve enjoyed these last four years, the last time that I would jump in a Ferrari car, probably,” he said.
“I tried to remind myself to try and enjoy the race as much as possible and to give the absolute maximum for this team. Jumping out of the car, I already had the bittersweet feeling.” AFP, REUTERS
