Red Bull Racing ready to replace Verstappen if race ban becomes reality

08:58, 14 Jun

byEstéban den Toom

Max Verstappen needs to be very careful at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to avoid receiving a penalty point. Doing so would mean that the Dutchman would not be allowed to participate in the next race. But if it was the case, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner knows that Red Bull could handle such a setback well.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Red Bull team boss was asked about the current situation with Verstappen being one point shy of a race ban. “First of all, it's a situation we want to desperately try and avoid. Should it come, we have enough drivers to call upon. We would deal with it IF it happened.”

Verstappen still has to hold on a bit longer as his first penalty points will not be removed until June 30, 2025. Then, two points will be removed from his superlicense, leaving him with 9. The next two points would not disappear until October.

Possible replacement for Verstappen during Formula 1 race

In such an event either Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar would then be called up to Red Bull Racing. Taking over from either of them in Racing Bulls would be current reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa. However, Arvid Lindblad, Red Bull's super talent could make his F1 debut, should Verstappen incurr in one more penalty point whilst Iwasa is racing in the Japanese Super Formula, but it remains unlikely.

It's worthy of mention, though, that the British talent has been announced as a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing as well as Racing Bulld.