Max Verstappen hit with ANOTHER penalty for virtual safety car violation ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix – with the latest sanction seeing the Red Bull star edge closer to a race ban

Max Verstappen was again given a penalty by the stewards in Brazil.

The three-time world champion has now received three penalties in two weekends: a total of 25 seconds. His latest was a five-second reprimand for leaving too early at the end of the virtual safety car phase during the sprint race at Interlagos.

The lead put the Dutchman close to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri as he fought unsuccessfully for second place behind winner Lando Norris.

The result is that Norris’s deficit in the battle for the world championship is reduced from 47 points at the start of the day to 44, while 132 points are still on offer.

The penalty demoted Verstappen one place to fourth. Piastri remained second, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moved up one place to third.

The sanction also gives Verstappen a penalty point on his super license, which brings him to seven for the year

The stewards said: ‘The driver was 0.63sec below the minimum time at VSC End when the FIA ​​light panels turned green. This indicates a sporting advantage achieved under VSC.

‘The driver explained that while he was waiting for the end of the VSC and was notified that he was under the minimum time, he attempted to correct the error but was unable to do so when the panels turned green.

“This is an offense and the standard penalty will be applied to the benefit gained at that time. The net effect of this was that the driver had an advantage over where he was at the start of the VSC and not because the car in front fell back.’

Verstappen also received one penalty point on his super license, bringing him to seven in the year. A total of 12 will result in a racing ban.

Qualifying takes place today at 6pm GMT.