Max Verstappen’s risk of facing a race ban has been significantly reduced as three penalty points were removed from his record before the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen now holds a total of six penalty points, making his situation more comfortable as he competes against Oliver Bearman in the final races of the season.
Both Verstappen and Bearman had successful performances at the Mexican Grand Prix, with Verstappen finishing third and Bearman finishing fourth, marking a career-best result for the Haas driver who narrowly missed a podium finish.
Following the race, the FIA made adjustments to both drivers’ penalty points in compliance with sporting regulations. Verstappen had two penalty points removed for incidents involving Lando Norris and a virtual safety car violation, while Bearman’s points were reduced after an incident with Franco Colapinto in Brazil.
In a separate incident, Bearman received a time penalty for a track limit violation during a race against Kimi Antonelli but did not incur any penalty points on his super license.
The adjustments to penalty points were not exclusive to Verstappen and Bearman. Oscar Piastri, another championship contender, also had two points removed from his license due to a collision in the previous season.
These changes provide some relief to Verstappen, Bearman, and Piastri as they navigate the intense championship battle. With Norris leading the Drivers’ Championship, the pressure is mounting, especially on Piastri, who has struggled to keep up with his rivals in recent races.
Verstappen acknowledges the challenge ahead, emphasizing the need for flawless performances to secure another championship title. He remains determined to win every race moving forward to stay in contention for the championship.