Max Verstappen had one of the most ill-disciplined races of his Formula 1 career in Mexico City last weekend. He picked up two 10-second penalties for incidents with McLaren driver Lando Norris. Verstappen was trying to defend second place from title rival Norris at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on lap 10.

But he was punished for forcing him off the track at turn four, when the Englishman tried to execute a move around the outside. He then tried to retake the place at turn seven, but carried far too much speed into the corner and ran wide, once again giving Norris too little room to make the corner. Martin Brundle called Verstappen’s lunge ‘ridiculous’, and it led to his time penalty being doubled.

Verstappen has established himself as an all-time great by winning three consecutive world championships, matching Ayrton Senna, and remains on course for a fourth this year. He leads Norris by 47 points heading into the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. However, he’s also developed a reputation for testing the regulations.

McLaren feel Verstappen is ‘gaming’ the rules, which has fuelled their growing rivalry with Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton says Verstappen exploits grey areas, as he learned the hard way back in 2021. Here, F1 Oversteer takes a look at the heaviest penalties he’s received since making his debut in 2015.

Max Verstappen’s worst F1 penalties including Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris clashesThe harshest penalties an F1 driver can receive are a disqualification or a suspension. Verstappen has never done anything to merit that level of sanction. In-race, a driver may receive a drive-through or, worse still, a stop-and-go penalty for particularly serious offences.

The stewards hit Verstappen with the former for speeding under the safety car at the Hungarian GP during his rookie year, and ignoring blue flags in Abu Dhabi. Also that season, he received a five-place grid penalty after an ill-judged, race-ending move on Romain Grosjean. Two years later, he would see 10 seconds added to his race time for hitting Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo in Budapest.

Photo by Lars Baron/Getty ImagesAn identical punishment followed at the 2018 Chinese GP, where he tagged Sebastian Vettel at the hairpin and spun the Ferrari around. More infamous, though, was the tangle with Hamilton in Saudi Arabia in 2021. Instructed to let the Mercedes driver through after leaving the track during their battle, he slowed dramatically on the straight, catching his title rival out and leading to contact.

Hamilton complained over the radio that ‘he brake-tested me’. Verstappen, who had already lost five seconds to a separate incident, earned a further 10-second penalty following a post-race investigation. Red Bull were dominant for the next two years, but McLaren’s resurgence has prompted the Dutchman to dial up his aggression.

In Austria earlier this year, he was deemed at fault for a late collision with Norris, who was attempting to pass him for the lead. Verstappen managed to finish fifth despite a 10-second penalty, while Norris retired. Max Verstappen jokes about the one thing he’ll change after Mexico City Grand Prix penaltiesDamon Hill feels Verstappen ‘let himself down’ in Mexico by driving recklessly.

He’s in awe of the 27-year-old’s talent but believes he crossed a line on this occasion. However, there’s no indication that he’ll change his approach going forward. None of the aforementioned incidents prompted him to do so.

RaceIncidentPenaltyPointsMonaco 2015Causing a collision with Romain GrosjeanFive placesTwoHungary 2015Speeding under safety carDrive-throughThreeAbu Dhabi 2015Ignoring blue flagsDrive-throughTwoHungary 2017Causing a collision with Daniel Ricciardo10 secondsTwoChina 2018Causing a collision with Sebastian Vettel10 secondsTwoSaudi Arabia 2021Causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton10 secondsTwoAustria 2024Causing a collision with Lando Norris10 secondsTwoMexico 2024Forcing Lando Norris off the track & leaving the track and gaining an advantage10 seconds (x2)TwoMax Verstappen’s biggest penalties in Formula 1A nonchalant Verstappen joked about his penalty in his interviews after the race. He says the only thing he’ll change is taking a longer drink during his enforced stoppage. But he wouldn’t have won 61 races without being smart.

If the officials clamp down on his tactics, he’ll adapt – stubbornness will only hurt his results.