Penalty points last for 12 months in F1, and so Verstappen’s slate won’t start clearing until June 30, the day after the Austrian Grand Prix. And even that is just two points falling off, if he navigates clean weekends in Canada and Austria in the coming weeks.

Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for driving into Mercedes' George Russell in the final stages of the Spanish Grand Prix, which brings his total over the past 12 months up to 11, with 12 leading to an automatic one race ban. Only after the Austria race will he start losing points again to diminish that threat.

The FIA hit the Red Bull star and four-time world champion with a 10-second penalty in the race, followed by three penalty points on his super license. That means Verstappen enters the Canadian Grand Prix with 11 points total on his super license in total. F1's rules dictate 12 penalty points in a 12-month period trigger a one-race suspension.