Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 driver Max VerstappenPlayer·Max Verstappen has commenced the 2026 Monaco Grand PrixCompetition·Monaco Grand Prix week with a clear superlicence, as his final three penalty points officially expired on June 1. The expiration of these points, which were incurred during the 2025 Spanish Grand PrixCompetition·Spanish Grand Prix for an incident involving George RussellPlayer·George Russell, removes the immediate threat of a race suspension that had loomed over the former world champion.
Verstappen expressed his relief to Dutch media, stating, "For me, this is a new start. I can't wait to be able to focus only on racing. Nobody likes to have penalty points."
At one point during the 2025 season, Verstappen had accumulated 11 penalty points, just one shy of the 12-point threshold that triggers an automatic one-race ban under Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 regulations. The system dictates that if a driver accrues 12 points within a 12-month period, they are prohibited from competing in the subsequent Grand Prix.
With Verstappen's points now reset to zero, he joins eight other drivers, including reigning world champion Lando NorrisPlayer·Lando Norris and George RussellPlayer·George Russell, who also currently hold no penalty points on their superlicences. This marks a significant moment, particularly as no driver has received penalty points since the start of the 2026 season, according to recent reports.
While Verstappen enjoys a clean slate, other drivers continue to manage their point tallies. Oliver BearmanPlayer·Oliver Bearman, for instance, saw his total reduced from 10 to 8 points, though he still leads the unofficial ranking for most penalty points. Following Bearman are Andrea Kimi AntonelliPlayer·Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lance StrollPlayer·Lance Stroll, each with 5 points, Oscar PiastriPlayer·Oscar Piastri with 4 points, and both Lewis HamiltonPlayer·Lewis Hamilton and Alex AlbonPlayer·Alex Albon holding 3 points.
Verstappen, who finished second in the 2025 Drivers' Championship just two points behind Lando NorrisPlayer·Lando Norris, currently sits seventh in the 2026 standings with 43 points after five races, yet to secure a victory this season. He notably changed his racing number from 1 to 3 for the 2026 campaign. The removal of these penalty points allows him to fully concentrate on improving his championship position without the added pressure of a looming suspension.
F1 cars, including Max Verstappen, at the start of the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. DeFodi Images/IMAGO
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