Verstappen gets extra punishment for Suzuka crash

Verstappen gets extra punishment for Suzuka crash, nears race ban

Joas van Wingerden

Sunday 7 October 2018 12:59

Max Verstappen was punished further by the FIA and Japanese Grand Prix stewards for his opening-lap crash with Kimi Raikkonen, picking up a penalty point on his super licence that puts him close to a race ban. Verstappen now has eight points on his licence, if he picks up four at the United States Grand Prix he will be band for Mexico.

Verstappen served a five-second penalty during the race for entering the track unsafely after a first-lap lock-up sent him off the track and he made contact with Raikkonen while trying not to cut the corner at the next turn.

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"If I get a five-second penalty next time I'll just cut the track like Valtteri [Bottas] did. I know what to do next time," he told Sky Sports.

Verstappen was less than impressed with his in-race sanction, but there was worse to come afterwards.

He will lose a point from his super licence on October 22, as it will have been on his record for more than 12 months.

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VIDEO: How Vettel and Verstappen reacted to crash on team radio
VIDEO: Verstappen and Raikkonen crash on lap one!
VIDEO: Vettel and Verstappen crash!

Happy finishing on the podium! ???? Despite some damage to our car we had the pace and we did a great job @redbullracing ???????? #KeepPushing #JapaneseGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/3IMeu6Vmb2 — Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) October 7, 2018