Verstappen has one more penalty to go in 2024 and hints at paternity leave

For Verstappen, the Formula 1 season could not be over soon enough. In Qatar, Verstappen already stated that he was tired. Back then, Verstappen said he sometimes felt like a bat because he was working so much in the dark. After the race in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen was clearly relieved that it was all over.

For the collision with Oscar Piastri and subsequent spin, Verstappen took full responsibility. He had already apologised to Piastri. Verstappen saw a gap, went for it, but soon realised it would not work out. Verstappen himself was still able to score good points, Piastri eventually got no further than P10.

Why Verstappen doesn't understand anything about the stewards

Although Verstappen took the blame, he understood very little of the penalty he had received. Verstappen did not want to talk about it. For him, the most important thing was that he had apologised to Piastri, as he did not want to crash with him. About the penalties in general, Verstappen stated that he no longer understood anything about them at all.

The incident did give Verstappen another two penalty points on his licence, so he now has eight out of a total of 12. If Verstappen reaches 12, he will be suspended for one race as happened to Kevin Magnussen earlier this season. Verstappen himself could see the irony in it: ''Maybe I will get to 12 when the baby is born, then it will be a kind of paternity leave.''

Speaking of punishments, Verstappen also faces another punishment. After using the word 'fucked', Verstappen was given community service by the FIA. Whereas Charles Leclerc got away with it, Verstappen will have to perform his community service. The Dutchman does know what awaits him: ''We'll sort that out in Rwanda,'' Verstappen responded to GPblog's question, referring to the FIA gala in Rwanda where the title will be presented to him.

Penalty for Max Verstappen

The FIA has revealed that Verstappen will undertake some work with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC). The activity will involve an FIA Affordable Cross Car which was built locally in Rwanda by the RAC from blueprints provided by the FIA. Design blueprints for the Level 2 category Affordable Cross Car project have been delivered to the global network of 147 National Sporting Authorities (ASNs).

The FIA seems to be accommodating Verstappen somewhat with this, as Verstappen already has to be in Rwanda to collect his FIA Formula One World Championship trophy. Verstappen will perform his community service on the Friday of that weekend and will not have to show up again later in the year.

Verstappen was also given a community service penalty by the stewards in 2018. Verstappen had pushed Esteban Ocon after a collision during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen then fulfilled his community service by joining the stewards for two days during a Formula E race in Marrakesh.