Red Bull Weighs Driver Options as Verstappen Nears Race Ban

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen enters the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix weekend under the shadow of a potential race ban, having accumulated 11 penalty points on his super licence – just one point shy of the 12-point limit. This precarious situation has prompted Red Bull Racing to assess their contingency plans, leveraging the extensive driver pool available through their ownership of both the Red Bull and Racing Bulls teams. Team Principal Christian Horner addressed the possibility of Verstappen incurring a ban, confirming that Red Bull is well-equipped to handle such an event. While emphasizing the team's desire to avoid the scenario entirely, Horner highlighted the depth of talent within the Red Bull driver stable, which allows for flexibility in deploying personnel across their two F1 operations. Discussions regarding potential replacements have centered on drivers within the Red Bull system. The most likely candidates to step into Verstappen's seat, should a ban occur, are understood to be Liam Lawson, currently serving as a reserve driver, or Isack Hadjar, who is also part of the Red Bull junior program. Both drivers have recent F1 testing or practice experience. Interestingly, Horner indicated that Arvid Lindblad, a young driver who recently received special dispensation for an F1-grade super licence despite being under the standard age limit, is not considered a viable immediate option. Despite possessing the necessary licence, Lindblad is viewed as being at the very beginning of his single-seater journey, with the focus remaining on his current Formula 2 campaign. Beyond the potential ban scenario, Horner also provided insight into the recent form of Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls. He acknowledged that a significant crash during qualifying at Imola appeared to have impacted the Japanese driver's confidence in the subsequent races. However, Horner noted that Tsunoda has been working to rebuild that confidence, including undertaking a private test in Red Bull's 2023 car, the RB19, in Barcelona after the Spanish Grand Prix. He suggested this track time was beneficial and expressed hope that Tsunoda could continue to improve, noting metrics show him performing closer to Verstappen's level at times. As the season progresses and Verstappen navigates the penalty point tightrope, Red Bull remains prepared for various outcomes, relying on the breadth of talent nurtured within their comprehensive driver development program to support both their top team and Racing Bulls.