With just one penalty point left, Max Verstappen could be sidelined for a race. The Dutchman has accumulated eleven out of the twelve permitted penalty points following his clash with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix. As a result, in the words of Helmut Marko, the four-time world champion can’t afford to make any mistakes in Canada. Otherwise, he might miss Red Bull’s home race. While Christian Horner naturally wants to avoid this scenario, the team boss reveals that Red Bull is already prepared.
Should Max Verstappen unexpectedly receive another penalty point during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull is at least prepared for a home race without their star driver. “Firstly, it’s a situation we would very much like to avoid,” team boss Christian Horner tells Sky Sports. “But if it does happen, we have plenty of drivers on standby. We can certainly handle it, if it happens.”
Among others, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, current drivers of sister team Racing Bulls, could both be options to replace Verstappen. Red Bull could also choose to have Racing Bulls reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa or 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad, who just got his super license, take a seat in the RB21.
Best Red Bull Driver Ever
Despite Red Bull being prepared for a potential suspension of Verstappen, it’s a ‘disaster scenario’ for advisor Helmut Marko. “Max is the best driver we (Red Bull) have ever had,” the Austrian told BBC The Inside Track. “He continues to develop. I don’t see an end to his progress. He always brings something extra. Last year’s race in Brazil on a wet track, from seventeenth to first place,” Marko recalls Verstappen’s magnificent comeback race. “He’s getting faster with less risk and more calmness. He doesn’t need to push every lap, he’s really relaxed. But when it comes down to it, Max delivers.”
