Verstappen hints at RACE BAN after FIA punishment

Max Verstappen has hinted that he may welcome more penalty points on his license at the start of next season.

The four-time world champion picked up more points this weekend, moving him closer to a one-race ban, after a chaotic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which saw several penalties handed out through the field.

READ MORE: Verstappen handed MASSIVE penalty for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix collision

One of these drivers was Verstappen himself, hit with a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with McLaren's Oscar Piastri into turn one at Yas Marina Circuit.

As well as the time penalty, the FIA also decided that Verstappen's move was worthy of additional penalty points, taking his current tally from six to eight.

Max Verstappen moves closer to race ban

Unfortunately for Verstappen, penalty points last for a 12-month period and do not reset at the end of each season.

And, once a driver receives 12 penalty points, they receive an automatic race ban from the FIA, just as Kevin Magnussen did earlier this year for Haas.

This means that Verstappen enters the 2025 season just four points from a potential race ban, with no points set to come off his total until the end of June, by which point 10 grands prix will have taken place.

The four-time champion appeared relaxed over the matter when addressing the situation after the race, however, telling Erik van Haren of De Telegraaf: "Maybe I'll make sure I get to 12 points when the baby is born. Then I can go on paternity leave."

Verstappen's comment comes just days after he and partner Kelly Piquet confirmed that they are expecting their first child together.

"Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way ❤️," the couple wrote on Instagram. "We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle 💫."

READ MORE: Red Bull star retires from Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after DOUBLE crash

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