Max Verstappen finds himself in a precarious position after accumulating 11 penalty points on his FIA super licence, leaving him just one point away from an automatic one-race ban.
The reigning world champion's latest infraction came at the Spanish Grand Prix following a misjudged manoeuvre with George Russell.
After being instructed to return a position to the Mercedes driver, Verstappen attempted an immediate overtake by lunging down the inside, resulting in contact between the two cars.
The stewards imposed a 10-second time penalty that relegated him to tenth place in the final classification, alongside three penalty points that pushed him to the brink of suspension.
Christian Horner faces a potential problem with Max Verstappen on the brink of a race ban
Reuters
Christian Horner is reportedly weighing up contingency plans should Verstappen face suspension, with Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar emerging as the leading candidates to step in.
According to a report from PlanetF1, Red Bull would look internally for a replacement if their star driver receives a ban.
The Dutchman must navigate two more race weekends before any penalty points are removed from his licence.
Both Lawson and Hadjar are currently competing for the Racing Bulls team, Red Bull's sister squad, positioning them as natural choices should the team require an emergency replacement for their four-time world champion.
Lawson has already gained experience driving the RB21, though his challenging start to the 2025 season saw him struggle significantly in his first two race weekends.
The 23-year-old New Zealander's poor form prompted Horner and Helmut Marko to make an early-season change.
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Hadjar's campaign began disastrously when the French rookie crashed on the formation lap of his debut Grand Prix.
However, his subsequent performances have been remarkable, securing points in five of the last eight races whilst demonstrating impressive qualifying pace.
The turnaround has established him as a genuine contender should Red Bull require a substitute driver.
Should either Racing Bulls driver be promoted temporarily, it would create an opportunity for a new face at the sister team.
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Liam Lawson was replaced by Red Bull earlier in the season
Reuters
Ayumu Iwasa serves as the official reserve driver and has accumulated substantial free practice experience, though Horner and Marko are reportedly more inclined towards Arvid Lindblad if the FIA grants special dispensation for the 17-year-old.
Lindblad claimed his first Formula Two feature race victory in Barcelona and has started his rookie season with 11 consecutive top-10 finishes.
Red Bull will be keen to avoid any suspension scenario, having already slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship whilst Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points.
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