Formula 1 Spanish GP
Johnny Herbert: Risk of race ban "will not change" Max Verstappen’s driving
Ex-Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Max Verstappen should have been disqualified from the Spanish Grand Prix after his clash with George Russell
Owen Bellwood
Published: Jun 4, 2025, 12:02 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Max Verstappen’s dramatic clash with George Russell during the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix means that he is now just one penalty point away from a race ban. However, while a ban could prove pivotal in his campaign to hold on to the drivers' title for another year, ex-F1 racer Johnny Herbert says the cloud hanging over Verstappen’s head won’t change the way he goes racing.
Verstappen clashed with the Mercedes racer following a late safety car in the Spanish GP. As a result of the crash, the Dutchman received a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points on his FIA superlicence – bringing his tally to 11 for the year.
The punishment dished out by the stewards dropped Verstappen down to 10th in the race, and means that one more misdemeanour on track before the end of June could spell a race ban for the Dutchman.
Despite the risk of missing an F1 weekend now weighing over Verstappen’s head, former Benetton and Jaguar racer Herbert says he isn’t expecting much to change in Verstappen’s camp over the coming races.
Johnny Herbert, FIA steward
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“You’ve got to think about the penalty point situation, one point can be from very simple error of judgement,” Herbert told the Roobet Alternatives site.
“That one penalty point from being banned will be on his mind [but] it will not change the way he’s driving.
“For years, Verstappen has been the chased but now he’s the chaser, he’ll have to be slightly more measured. Those little moments of aggression will have to be controlled.”
Herbert added that Verstappen is the “smartest driver on the track” as he believes he is able to bend the rules of racing to his advantage. But, the Briton warned that the four-time world champion might need to “think differently” over the upcoming Canadian and Austrian grands prix.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
In order to change Verstappen’s way of thinking, Herbert added that the risk of a one-race ban might not be enough to “stamp out” on-track behaviour such as this. Instead, the three-time race winner said stewards should have disqualified Verstappen from the Spanish GP to set an example.
“Max Verstappen deserved a black flag and should have been disqualified,” he told the site.
“There’s a point where you have to be hard on the driver when there have been many of these types of incidents. Verstappen is the best driver on the track, with the best racecraft and judgement, but there is always a story with him.
“That type of racing should not happen, if it does happen, the penalty should be harsher to stamp it out. It can’t just be a 10-second penalty, otherwise you’re treating it like any other racing incident.”
Read Also:
Formula 1Max Verstappen admits guilt for George Russell clash at F1 Spanish GP
Formula 1Max Verstappen apologized to Red Bull for Spanish GP clash with George Russell
In an F1 race, stewards have the power to hand out five- and 10-second time penalties, as well as drive-through and stop-go penalties, which would both have been more severe and pushed Verstappen out of the points.
In sever instances, they can disqualify drivers from the race or the following grand prix, as was the case with Romain Grosjean in 2012 when he was found to have caused a dramatic first lap crash at the Belgian Grand Prix.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article As Barcelona fights for its F1 race, how is the 2026 calendar shaping up?
Next article Does F1 have an issue with race control guidance, after Verstappen/Russell incident?
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Owen Bellwood
Mercedes: 2027 development “started a while ago” as F1 2026 domination continues
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Mercedes: 2027 development “started a while ago” as F1 2026 domination continues
Fred Vasseur shuts down claims Ferrari split Spanish GP strategy to separate drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Fred Vasseur shuts down claims Ferrari split Spanish GP strategy to separate drivers
Why McLaren won’t blame F1 race control for lost Spanish GP victory
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Why McLaren won’t blame F1 race control for lost Spanish GP victory
More from
Max Verstappen
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
The hidden factor that gives Max Verstappen and Red Bull extra hope for 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
The hidden factor that gives Max Verstappen and Red Bull extra hope for 2027
More from
Red Bull Racing
Laurent Mekies extends contract as Red Bull's F1 team boss
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
13 h
Laurent Mekies extends contract as Red Bull's F1 team boss
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Formula 1
Formula 1 16 h
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Latest news
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
7 h
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 8 h
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
9 h
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe