Max Verstappen: Red Bull motive force may not trade method at Canadian Grand Prix in spite of race ban risk

Max Verstappen says he may not trade his method in spite of being at the verge of a race ban forward of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was once given two penalty issues for his collision with George Russell final day trip in Spain because of this he has 11 penalty issues on his tremendous licence from the final 12 months.

If a motive force reaches 12 penalty issues over a rolling one-year length, they’re banned for the following match. Since the penalty device was once presented in 2014, simplest Kevin Magnussen in 2024 has been suspended for attaining the dozen issues marker.

Verstappen will lose two penalty issues after the Austrian Grand Prix on the finish of June, however will want to come via this weekend’s race in Montreal, then the Austria match, unscathed.

“It’s there right? There’s nothing you can do about it. We just focus ahead, try to do the best you can every single time. It’s not [about] changing my approach,” he informed Sky Sports F1.

Verstappen added to the written media when requested a few trade of method: “I do not know, why will have to I?

“I can’t just back out of everything. I’m going to race how I do. I trust myself.”

Earlier on Thursday’s media day in Montreal, Mercedes motive force Russell mentioned {that a} race ban for Verstappen can be justified, will have to the Dutchman motive force succeed in the 12 penalty issues overall.

Russell says he’ll “continue racing exactly the same way” in opposition to Verstappen, who isn’t frightened about his opponents being competitive with him, figuring out he cannot have enough money to be penalised.

Verstappen, trailing championship chief Oscar Piastri via 49 issues, says he is “not worried” a few race suspension.

He mentioned: “What is fair? I mean, is it fair that I’m only 11 points? I don’t know, but at the same time, life is not fair, if you look at it like that.

“I simply come right here to race and I will be able to at all times race exhausting, race how I believe I will have to race, after which we cross directly to the following race.”

Verstappen: It was once no longer exhausting to place out observation

On the Monday after the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen authorized he was once at fault for the conflict with Russell and Christian Horner mentioned he apologised to the workforce.

The Dutchman was once no longer willing to speak about the incidents at the Sunday post-race and insists it was once “not hard” to place out a observation.

“I was sharing my view of things, how I thought that race panned out. It was not ideal for me. That was my statement, then I went back to enjoying my day.”

Verstappen was once not off course to complete 3rd in the back of the 2 McLarens in Spain till a Safety Car for Kimi Antonelli’s afflicted Mercedes bunched the sphere in combination.

Red Bull put Verstappen on exhausting tyres, since they’d no different new tyres, while everybody else within the most sensible 10 was once on softs.

Verstappen had a large snap of oversteer at the restart out of the final nook and was once overtaken via Charles Leclerc, who in short made touch with him. Russell additionally attempted to get via at Turn 1 however the pair touched and Verstappen lower the chicane to stay fourth position.

All this blended resulted in Verstappen’s expanding frustration which culminated in him being informed to let Russell via, which Red Bull didn’t want to do after the stewards deemed the Red Bull motive force did not anything incorrect on the first chicane.

“It was just a very frustrating few laps in a row. I got driven into in the straight after I almost crashed already with these hard tyres,” Verstappen defined.

“Then I got driven into in Turn 1, then they tell me that I have to give the place back. I’m like, ‘that makes no sense’, so it was like a lot of things that just came together.

“It was once a misjudgement obviously within the nook. But you do not want to cross into complete element of why, how and what. Everyone makes errors in existence. Everyone learns from them and we simply transfer on.”

Verstappen focused on podium in Canada

Verstappen has received the final 3 Canadian Grand Prix however McLaren can be favourites as soon as once more after their spectacular season to this point.

Red Bull had been quite vulnerable on tracks that experience loads of low-speed corners and over bumps, which the latter is a significant characteristic on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“If we can fight for a podium, fighting with Ferrari, Mercedes, I think that already would be a good achievement,” mentioned Verstappen.

“McLaren go fast everywhere. It’s not even in my head. I’m more focused on the other teams.

“I do know that final 12 months, for instance, Mercedes was once very robust right here. I believe in case you evaluate final 12 months to now, I believe possibly they are extra aggressive as neatly. It can be exhausting sufficient, I believe, to already struggle for a podium.”

Sky Sports F1’s Canadian GP time table

Friday June 13
4pm: F1 Academy Practice One
6pm: Canadian GP Practice One (consultation begins at 6.30pm)
8pm: The F1 Show
9pm: Team Principals’ Press Conference
9.30pm: Canadian GP Practice Two (consultation begins at 10pm)
11.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying

Saturday June 14
2.10pm: F1 Academy Race One
5.15pm: Canadian GP Practice Three (consultation begins at 5.30pm)
7.30pm: F1 Academy Race Two
8.30pm: Canadian GP Qualifying build-up
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING
11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday June 15
3.50pm: F1 Academy Race Three
5.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Canadian GP build-up*
7pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
9pm: Chequered Flag: Canadian GP response
10pm: Ted’s Notebook

*additionally on Sky Sports Main Event

The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes live to tell the tale Sky Sports F1 with the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.