Max Verstappen now holds the F1 penalty points record
The Dutchman, who is heading for a fourth consecutive world championship title, also leads in another category, that of the number of penalty points received. Since their introduction in 2014, nobody has collected as many as Max Verstappen.
It is a record he could have done without. Max Verstappen, the current triple world champion, recently became the driver with the most penalty points accumulated since the introduction of this system in 2014, a year before his arrival in Formula 1. Unlike Kevin Magnussen, the only driver to have been suspended for reaching the limit of 12 points allowed, Verstappen has always managed to avoid this sanction. In fact, he will be able to recover two points during the next weekend in Las Vegas, one year after being penalized for pushing Charles Leclerc off track at the start.
However, these penalties do not tarnish his status as an exceptional driver (62 wins in F1). Statistically, the Danish driver accumulates points at an average rate of 0.2 per Grand Prix weekend, compared to 0.18 for the native of Hasselt. But since his debut in 2015, Verstappen has still accumulated 39 penalty points, a record total. Here is an overview of the main sanctions received by the Red Bull driver.
A turbulent first season
From his early days in Formula 1, Verstappen stood out for his strong character, sometimes pushing the limits. In Monaco, he loses two points on his super license after a collision with Romain Grosjean. In Hungary, he receives three points for speeding under the safety car, a penalty that also requires a stop in the pits. Finally, in Abu Dhabi, he incurs a double penalty: one point for leaving the track while overtaking Jenson Button and two more for ignoring blue flags while about to be lapped by Lewis Hamilton. With eight points accumulated, he narrowly avoids further penalties in his first season.
The following season, in 2016, is much calmer. Promoted to Red Bull after the Russian Grand Prix, he is penalized only once, in Mexico, for cutting the first corner in front of Sebastian Vettel without giving back the position. After a relatively calm 2017 season (three penalty points, including two for a collision with Daniel Ricciardo in Hungary), Verstappen experiences a more eventful 2018 campaign. He accumulates seven points over four Grand Prix races, notably in China where he collides with Vettel’s Ferrari. Close to a suspension, he regains his composure and manages to receive no penalties in 2020.
However, his aggressive temperament resurfaced in 2021, the year of his fierce duel with Lewis Hamilton for the title. Incidents multiplied between the two rivals: in Monza (both drivers retired) and in Jeddah (two penalties). In 2022, hostilities resumed with a new collision at Interlagos, costing the Dutchman two points.
Recent friction
In 2023, Verstappen is penalized for pushing Charles Leclerc off the track in Las Vegas, earning him two additional points. Nevertheless, he remains relatively clean, although his aggressive style has once again brought him into the spotlight, notably against Lando Norris in Mexico. Despite his numerous penalties, Max Verstappen has never been suspended from a Grand Prix. His brilliant performances on the track have often overshadowed these incidents. With the opportunity to win a fourth world title this weekend in Las Vegas, he could further cement his place in Formula 1 history by becoming the sixth driver to win at least four world championship titles.
