Max Verstappen’s risk of a race ban has significantly decreased as three penalty points were removed from his record before the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen now holds six penalty points over a 12-month period, making his position more secure. His competitor, Oliver Bearman, has also benefited from a reduction in penalty points as they approach the final four races of the season.
Both Verstappen and Bearman had successful performances at the Mexican Grand Prix, finishing in third and fourth places respectively. Bearman achieved his best career result and narrowly missed out on a podium finish.
Following the race, the FIA made adjustments to both drivers’ super license penalty points in adherence to sporting regulations. Verstappen had received two penalty points for incidents in Mexico and Brazil, which have now been expunged from his record. Bearman, who was close to a race ban due to points accumulated from a collision with Carlos Sainz, saw his total penalty points reduced to eight after the FIA nullified two points from a previous incident with Franco Colapinto.
Additionally, Bearman received a 10-second time penalty for a track limit violation during a race with Kimi Antonelli in Austin, but this did not result in any points being added to his FIA super license.
Other drivers also saw adjustments in their penalty point totals, with Oscar Piastri having two points removed from his license following an incident with Liam Lawson in a previous race. The reduced penalty points provide some relief to Verstappen and Piastri as they navigate the final stages of the competitive championship battle. Norris currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by one point after a strong performance in Mexico City.
Among the title contenders, Piastri faces the most pressure as he has struggled to keep up with Verstappen and Norris in recent races, conceding a significant lead in the championship standings. Verstappen understands the importance of flawless performances to secure his fifth consecutive title, acknowledging the challenge ahead and the need to win consistently to stay in contention.