Following a chaotic and costly Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faces more than just a points deficit in the championship—he now sits on the brink of a race ban. And as speculation swirls around his potential absence from the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, his partner Kelly Piquet has offered a rare glimpse into the Red Bull star’s current state.

Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points after his controversial clash with George Russell in Barcelona, dropping him from P3 to P10. With 11 penalty points now on his license—just one shy of the automatic race ban threshold—Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has acknowledged that a backup plan is being seriously considered.

“We’re monitoring the situation very closely,” Horner told reporters. “Of course, Max is crucial to our championship hopes, but we also have to be realistic. If he picks up another point in Canada, we’ll be forced to replace him for one race. That option is on the table.”

The team is understood to be weighing reserve driver … as the most likely substitute, though Red Bull has yet to officially confirm.

In the midst of the media storm, Kelly Piquet—Verstappen’s partner and mother of their new𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 daughter Lily—shared a personal update on Instagram, reflecting on her own recovery after 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 and hinting at Verstappen’s emotional burden.

“When your old self slowly starts coming back after giving 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡,” she captioned a video on her story, showing a lighthearted dance moment. A source close to the family added, “Kelly has been Max’s rock through this whole turbulent stretch. He’s frustrated, of course, but focused—and very aware of what’s at stake.”

The couple welcomed Lily at the end of April, and since then Piquet had kept a low profile—until her recent post, which many fans saw as a subtle show of support for her partner during this high-pressure time.

Internally, Verstappen has reportedly owned up to his error in the post-race debrief.

“He apologized to the team,” Horner confirmed. “He knows the incident with Russell wasn’t his finest moment. He’s competitive, he’s emotional, and sometimes that boils over. But he’s taken responsibility.”

As the Canadian Grand Prix looms, the pressure on Verstappen is immense—not just to perform, but to avoid the smallest infraction that could sideline him entirely. With the championship slipping further into McLaren’s grasp, the next race may prove pivotal.

One thing is certain: if Verstappen does sit out Montreal, the fallout could reshape the 2025 title fight in dramatic fashion.