Red Bull confirm preparations for Max Verstappen F1 ban

A key Red Bull figure has confirmed that the team are already preparing for the possibility that Max Verstappen could be banned for an upcoming race.

The reigning F1 champion's clash with George Russell in Barcelona left him just one penalty point from picking up a one-race suspension, having been handed three for that incident.

Verstappen was ruled to have deliberately made contact with his championship rival during a tense battle for fourth spot, and received a 10-second time penalty and three points on his FIA Super Licence.

Accumulated points will reset after Sunday's race in Spielberg, but the four-time champion can't afford any more disciplinary action or else he will be forced to sit out next month's British GP at Silverstone.

And the team have taken steps to ensure that they are suitably prepared should that nightmare scenario become a reality, with junior driver Arvid Lindblad set to take part in Friday's practice.

"He spent half a day in the car on Monday in Italy to prepare," team advisor Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung. "And he'll also be in the car for Friday's practice at Silverstone.

"He stands out for his mental strength and self-confidence; his Swedish-Indian mix is ​​clearly very good for motorsport."

"We're preparing in case something really happens to Max Verstappen regarding his penalty points."

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Lindblad gets Marko's seal of approval

The Austrian continued: "We currently have two reserve drivers: Lindblad and Ayumu Iwasa, whose Formula 1 schedules clash with his appearances in Japan.

"We even had a deal with another team for some races; at one point, a reserve driver was even scheduled for three teams.

"It's not that easy to find someone who's in top shape, and that's why Lindblad is in the car now."

17-year-old Lindblad became part of the Red Bull family back in 2021, and is tipped to be a future star having already won twice in his maiden F2 campaign this season.

Verstappen has also celebrated two race victories in 2025, but heads in to this weekend's race at the Red Bull Ring behind McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the drivers' championship.

And he must also now contend with the threat of Russell - just 19 points behind - following the Brit's impressive victory in Montreal last time out.

READ MORE: F1 champ Max Verstappen tipped for Red Bull exit ahead of 2026

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