Max Verstappen faces increasing scrutiny and penalty points due to his aggressive racing style, which he defends as simply “racing.” With 11 penalty points on his license, he risks a race suspension if he incurs another point at the Canadian GP, potentially sidelining him for Red Bull’s home race in Austria.

Verstappen’s uncompromising approach has sparked debate among experts and media, with some criticizing his recent on-track incidents, while others defend his competitive spirit. Following a collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen dismissed criticism, stating he doesn’t care about outside opinions.

While Dutch commentators often take a lenient view, international media express concern over Verstappen’s behavior, questioning his legacy and comparing him to controversial figures like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. Verstappen has been compared to them countless times to his great annoyance, dismissing the comparisons as irrelevant due to differing eras.

The accumulation of penalty points stems from incidents like the one with Russell, prompting concerns about his driving conduct. The FIA penalty point system, introduced in 2014, aims to monitor driver behavior over a 12-month period, with 12 points resulting in a race ban.