Red Bull confirmed for Max Verstappen ban as Daniel Ricciardo ve… read more
Red Bull Racing is bracing for the possibility of a one-race suspension for Max Verstappen, with a detailed contingency plan reportedly in place should the reigning world champion be forced to sit out a Grand Prix later this season. This comes after Verstappen received a 10-second penalty during the Spanish Grand Prix for what stewards deemed an intentional collision with George Russell’s Mercedes. In addition to the time penalty, the Dutch driver was hit with three penalty points on his FIA super licence.
This latest incident pushes Verstappen’s tally to 11 penalty points in the past 12 months—just one short of the 12-point threshold that triggers an automatic one-race ban. With some of his earlier points set to expire on June 30, Verstappen must now get through the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix without incurring another penalty point. Failure to do so could see him sidelined at a critical stage of the 2025 Formula 1 season, which could be devastating for his championship campaign. Verstappen is currently trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points, and missing a race would further damage his title hopes.
Despite the looming threat, Red Bull appears to be well-prepared. According to GPFans, the team plans to promote either Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar to replace Verstappen if a ban occurs. Both are currently racing for Red Bull’s sister outfit, Racing Bulls. In the event one of them steps up to the main Red Bull seat, junior driver Ayumu Iwasa is expected to fill the vacant Racing Bulls slot, ensuring minimal disruption to the overall team setup.
This development also puts to rest speculation about a possible farewell appearance for Daniel Ricciardo. The popular Australian driver was dropped from the Racing Bulls team midway through the 2024 season after a string of poor performances and exited without a proper send-off. While fans had hoped Ricciardo might be brought in for a final race with Red Bull in case of a Verstappen suspension, the team seems to be focusing on its younger talent pool instead.
Among the potential replacements, Lawson seems to be the more likely candidate for a one-off call-up. He has prior experience in a Red Bull car and has continued to race competitively with Racing Bulls. However, his promotion would be surprising given he was dropped by the main team just two races into the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar has made a strong impression in his rookie year, accumulating 21 championship points—more than both Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda—even without driving for the main Red Bull team. This performance could give Hadjar a strong case for selection if Verstappen is forced to miss a race.
Additionally, plans to have Ayumu Iwasa step into Racing Bulls also quash rumors that rising F2 star Arvid Lindblad might make a premature Formula 1 debut. Despite Lindblad’s impressive performances in the junior series, Red Bull appears to be taking a more measured approach with his development.
In short, while a potential Verstappen ban poses a significant threat to Red Bull’s title ambitions, the team has structured a clear succession plan that prioritizes its existing talent pool over nos
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