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Verstappen handed early 2025 PENALTY after controversial Williams incident

Max Verstappen has been handed a penalty before the 2025 F1 season has even begun!

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Tuesday 14 January 2025 08:27 Updated: 11:14

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has been penalised during the sport's winter break after a controversial racing incident.

The Red Bull star is seemingly eager to get back to racing as preparations ramp up for his return to the pinnacle of motorsport ahead of the 2025 season.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen release confirmed as Red Bull star handed new drive

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The Dutchman secured his fourth consecutive F1 championship with Red Bull in 2024, although the team's persistent struggles on track proved a challenge at times for their star driver.

The 27-year-old faced his fair share of controversies last year with his X-rated language, press conference protests and late-night sim racing sessions causing quite a stir.

As drivers across the grid now enjoy the off-season, Verstappen has competed in 2024-25 GTP IMSA Global Esports Championship, entering as a wildcard for the final round.

To celebrate Verstappen's 2024 championship success, click here to shop the 'UNSTOPPABLE' F1 world champion hoodie that features a chequered flag graphic and orange detailing in the shade of the Dutchman's home colours.

Max Verstappen has now won four F1 championships with Red Bull

Max Verstappen's passion for sim racing is well documented

Verstappen in sim racing crash

Verstappen found himself in hot water for a controversial move during the virtual race which saw his Acura lunge for the lead, misjudging the overtake and wiping out both himself and the championship-leading Williams.

The cars remained off-track momentarily but were both able to continue with the race with a drive-through penalty handed to Verstappen for causing a collision.

Speaking on the incident, Verstappen said: "I just locked up a bit the rears and in this car, it’s very hard to control that, so I just went wide,"

"After that, I think both cars had damage, so it was quite a difficult first stint. Then we boxed, almost cleaned the car I would say, [it was] almost fully repaired, so the pace was almost back.

"I tried to overtake a backmarker, I think a GTD car, and he didn’t keep his line. I think he just wanted to keep out of the way, to be honest, a bit of miscommunication and I had damage again within three laps of the stint."

The affected Williams however, went on to finish in 10th place, but despite the setback, it was still enough to hand the Grove-based outfit the IMSA sim racing title.

Williams claimed the IMSA sim racing title

In the GTD category, Verstappen's own Team Redline also secured the title thanks to two victories for Florian Lebigre and Enzo Bonito.

To rep Verstappen, click to purchase the 'UNSTOPPABLE' t-shirt' which displays Verstappen's logo of the lion, an emblem he has worn proudly throughout his impressive racing career to display his Dutch heritage and fierce racing mentality.

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here she realised her background in journalism and love of motorsport could be combined, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work more closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan which she hopes to build on.

View full biography

Red Bull Max Verstappen Formula 1 2025 season