Verstappen appeared to back off exiting Turn 4 but subsequently hit the side of Russell's car into Turn 5. Verstappen was deemed culpable and handed a 10-second penalty, demoting him from fifth to 10th, as well as three penalty points—putting him one penalty point away from a one-race suspension.

BARCELONA, Spain — In a year in which McLaren has emerged as Formula One’s dominant team with a brilliant car and two outstanding drivers, Max Verstappen’s efforts to stay in the hunt for the World Championship must be applauded.

With 11 penalty points on his licence, the reigning world champion finds himself on the brink of a race ban – a sanction that could effectively ruin his already fading chances of defending his title this year.