Verstappen Nears Race Ban Threshold, Raising Questions About Red Bull Stand-ins

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, finds himself in a precarious position regarding penalty points, leaving him just one infraction away from a one-race ban. The Dutchman's situation intensified following the recent Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where he received a 10-second penalty and three penalty points on his superlicence for contact with George Russell's Mercedes during the closing laps. This incident brought Verstappen's current tally to 11 points within the rolling 12-month period, leaving him on the brink of the 12 points required for an automatic suspension from a grand prix weekend. While he must navigate the upcoming races without incident, some relief is on the horizon. His first two penalty points from the current cycle, incurred at the 2023 Austrian GP, are set to expire on June 30. However, even after these points drop off, he will still be three points away from the threshold until the two points received at the 2023 Mexico GP expire on October 27. The possibility of a Verstappen ban, however remote, has sparked speculation within the F1 paddock regarding who Red Bull might call upon to fill the void for a single race. Red Bull's junior program and sister team, Racing Bulls, provide a pool of potential candidates. Among the front-runners from the Red Bull stable are Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. Hadjar, a French rookie driving for Racing Bulls, has impressed this season with strong performances, including points finishes and a notable fifth-place start in Monaco. His pace and adaptation make him a compelling option for a one-off appearance in the senior team. Liam Lawson also remains a contender. The New Zealander previously had a brief two-race stint deputising for Red Bull earlier in the year, though he struggled to adapt to the car and was subsequently returned to Racing Bulls. Despite this, his prior experience within the senior team's operations could be valuable. Lawson recently scored his first points of the year in Monaco and demonstrated strong teamwork. Further down the junior ranks, Ayumu Iwasa, a Japanese driver racing in Super Formula, has been part of the Red Bull program since 2021 and has made FP1 appearances for both Racing Bulls and Red Bull. While unlikely to step directly into the Red Bull seat, he could be in line to fill a temporary vacancy at Racing Bulls should Hadjar or Lawson be promoted. Similarly, British F2 race winner Arvid Lindblad is part of the junior pool. However, regulatory hurdles related to his age (under 18 until early August) would require special clearance from the FIA for him to compete, likely in a Racing Bulls car. Beyond the junior talent, the possibility of an experienced driver return has been mooted, albeit speculatively. Daniel Ricciardo, a former Red Bull driver and more recently with Racing Bulls, is a popular figure linked to the team. However, he has reportedly distanced himself from active competition since losing his seat. Sergio Perez, who drove for Red Bull until the end of last season, knows the team intimately, but his departure followed a challenging year, making a return appear highly improbable. As Verstappen navigates the upcoming races, the focus will remain on his performance and adherence to the rules, while Red Bull quietly assesses its options should an unexpected one-race absence become a reality.