Max Verstappen Faces First Penalty of 2025 Season After Sim Race Incident

Max Verstappen, the Red Bull F1 star, has been hit with his first penalty of the 2025 season after a drive-through penalty in a sim race. The penalty was issued following a collision during the final round of the 2024-2025 GTP IMSA Global Esports Championship, where Verstappen participated as a wildcard driver. This incident marks the beginning of a year where Verstappen must remain cautious, especially with a potential F1 race ban looming due to accumulated penalty points.

A Bold Move Leads to Controversy

In the virtual Daytona race, Verstappen started third on the grid and aimed for the lead at the very first corner. Unfortunately, his aggressive move caused a collision with the championship-leading Williams BMW. Both cars went off track, and Verstappen’s Red Bull Esports car sustained damage. Verstappen received a drive-through penalty for causing the collision, which significantly set back his race.

The race itself was a challenging one for Verstappen. His car, shared with Gustavo Ariel, suffered further damage as the race went on, ultimately finishing in 12th place. Meanwhile, Williams Esports clinched the championship.

Verstappen’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

After the incident, Verstappen admitted his mistake and explained the cause of the collision. He shared that he had locked the rear axle under braking while attempting to pass at the first corner. The 27-year-old driver said, “I just locked up a bit the rears, and in this car, it’s very hard to control that, so I just went wide.” Verstappen continued by acknowledging that the presence of the other car made it difficult to avoid the collision, referring to the incident as “unlucky.”

Verstappen noted that, although he had suffered damage, his team worked hard to repair the car and improve the pace. However, shortly after, another setback occurred. He tried to overtake a GTD car, but due to miscommunication, the backmarker didn’t maintain their line, leading to another round of damage to his car.

Verstappen’s Disciplinary Concerns for 2025

While Verstappen is known for his dominance on the F1 circuit, he now enters 2025 with a growing concern over his disciplinary record. The 2024 season ended with Verstappen accumulating eight penalty points, which could potentially trigger a race ban. Under the F1 penalty points system, drivers who reach 12 points over a 12-month period are forced to miss a race.

Verstappen collected six of these points during the final five rounds of the 2024 season. Among these penalties, Verstappen received points for incidents like forcing Lando Norris off track at the Mexican Grand Prix and driving too slowly during qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix. These incidents sparked tensions, including a dispute with George Russell. Verstappen also caused a collision with Oscar Piastri in Abu Dhabi, earning two more penalty points.

The clock is ticking for Verstappen as his penalty points won’t begin to drop off until June 30, the day after the Austrian Grand Prix. This means he has a window to clean up his driving and avoid accumulating more points that could jeopardize his season.

A Tightrope Walk for Verstappen

As Verstappen gears up for the 2025 F1 season, all eyes will be on his performance both on and off the track. While his remarkable success in Formula 1 continues, he must now balance his aggressive driving style with the risk of facing further penalties. With a potential race ban hanging over his head, Verstappen’s approach to the new season will likely be more cautious as he strives to maintain his championship aspirations while avoiding further disciplinary setbacks.