F1 penalty points: Max Verstappen handed title boost with penalty points update

Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen will be feeling very relieved this morning, and full of hope that he can win this year's drivers' championship.

Not only did the Dutchman secure his sixth successive grand prix podium to further close the gap in the standings to the championship leader to 36 points, but Verstappen has also been given confirmation that he is now very unlikely to serve a one-race ban at any point this season.

Verstappen has been sat on nine penalty points for a large chunk of this season - and at one stage was even at 11 - meaning he has been just one incident away from a potential ban from the sport.

In his ongoing championship battle with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, that would have been terminal to his chances of securing the 2025 championship, particularly if the ban came during a sprint race weekend when more points are up for grabs.

But, three penalty points will now drop from Verstappen's superlicence before the next event at the Brazilian GP, meaning he is now down to just six penalty points with 12 being the magic number for a race ban.

It is therefore highly unlikely that Verstappen will face a ban at all in 2025 and, with the Dutchman heading to a track at which he all but sealed the championship last year with a fantastic victory, he will be full of confidence that he can chase down the two McLarens.

Piastri will also see a couple of penalty points drop off his superlicence before next month's Brazilian GP, meaning the Australian will be down to just four.

F1 Driver Penalty Points

Every F1 driver's penalty points and when they expire

Red Bull

Max Verstappen - Six points

Yuki Tsunoda - Four points

Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton - Two points

Charles Leclerc - One point

Mercedes

George Russell - One point

Kimi Antonelli - Five points

Alpine

Pierre Gasly - Two points

Franco Colapinto - One point

Jack Doohan - Four points

McLaren

Lando Norris - Three points

Oscar Piastri - Four points

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso - Zero points

Lance Stroll - Five points

Haas

Esteban Ocon - One point

Ollie Bearman - Eight points

Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson - Six points

Isack Hadjar - Zero points

Williams

Carlos Sainz - Four points

Alex Albon - Four points

Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg - Zero points

Gabriel Bortoleto - Zero points

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