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In Formula 1, stewards have the authority to impose various forms of penalties on drivers who violate regulations. These penalties encompass time penalties, fines, and reprimands for infractions such as causing collisions or speeding in the pit lane. Additionally, stewards can assign penalty points to drivers’ superlicences, which serve as a method of tracking driver behavior throughout a season.
The implementation of the penalty points system was designed to monitor driver conduct on the track. When a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points within a 12-month timeframe, they face a one-race ban.
Recent history highlights the case of former Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, the last F1 driver to receive a race ban due to amassing 12 penalty points before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He was subsequently replaced by Oliver Bearman for that event.
Currently, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen leads the grid with the most penalty points, having accrued eight since the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, with subsequent penalties at races in Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen’s earliest points came from a collision with McLaren driver Lando Norris during the Austrian Grand Prix last year. He received an additional two points four months later in Mexico for forcing Norris off the track while being overtaken.
A week later, Verstappen earned yet another point for speeding under virtual safety car conditions. In a contrasting incident in Qatar, he was penalized for driving too slowly on his cooldown lap during qualifying.
His final points addition occurred during the Abu Dhabi season finale where he collided with Oscar Piastri while attempting a risky maneuver at Turn 1.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Austrian Grand Prix
30 June 2025
Causing a collision
2
Mexican Grand Prix
27 October 2025
Forcing another driver off the track
1
Brazilian Grand Prix
2 November 2025
Virtual safety car infringement
1
Qatar Grand Prix
30 November 2025
Driving unnecessarily slowly
2
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
8 December 2025
Causing a collision
Following closely behind Verstappen, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson holds the second-highest tally of penalty points on the grid, having accumulated five points across his brief career. Lawson’s penalties have predominantly stemmed from collisions.
His first points were recorded during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, with subsequent penalties issued at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, where several incidents contributed to his total.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Qatar Grand Prix
1 December 2025
Causing a collision
1
Bahrain Grand Prix
13 April 2025
Causing a collision
2
Bahrain Grand Prix
13 April 2025
Causing a collision
The current championship leader, Oscar Piastri, has four penalty points. His infractions include two points from the Brazilian Grand Prix and two more from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Brazilian Grand Prix
3 November 2025
Causing a collision
2
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
8 December 2025
Causing a collision
Elsewhere, Nico Hulkenberg from Sauber has also received four points due to incidents in Austria and Italy during the last season.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Austrian Grand Prix
29 June 2025
Forcing another driver off the track
2
Italian Grand Prix
1 September 2025
Causing a collision
Rookie Jack Doohan from Alpine has gathered four penalty points over his six grand prix starts, resulting from two incidents during the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Chinese Grand Prix
22 March 2026
Causing a collision
2
Chinese Grand Prix
23 March 2026
Forcing another driver off the track
Lando Norris of McLaren accumulated three penalty points in a single incident, marking one of the most severe penalties for a driver currently on the grid.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
3
Qatar Grand Prix
1 December 2025
Failing to slow under double waved yellow flags
Esteban Ocon from Haas holds three points, but is on track to lose one of them soon if no additional infractions occur at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
1
Miami Grand Prix
4 May 2025
Unsafe release
2
Monaco Grand Prix
26 May 2025
Causing a collision
Carlos Sainz also has three penalty points, with one set to expire soon. He received penalties at two different grands prix for collisions.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
1
Miami Grand Prix
4 May 2025
Causing a collision
2
Bahrain Grand Prix
13 March 2026
Forcing another driver off the track
During the last season, Oliver Bearman received his first penalty points after stepping in for Kevin Magnussen at Haas. In the Brazilian Grand Prix, he collided with Franco Colapinto of Williams, leading to two penalty points.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Brazilian Grand Prix
3 November 2025
Causing a collision
Alexander Albon – two points
Williams driver Alex Albon acquired two penalty points last year during the Qatar Grand Prix after causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Qatar Grand Prix
1 December 2025
Causing a collision
Fernando Alonso has also been relatively quiet lately, collecting just two penalty points in the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Austrian Grand Prix
30 June 2025
Causing a collision
Lance Stroll, Alonso’s colleague at Aston Martin, has also received two penalty points for a crash involving Alex Albon in Qatar.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
2
Qatar Grand Prix
1 December 2025
Causing a collision
As the grid looks ahead, Mercedes driver George Russell has the fewest points currently, with just one for a violation involving maintaining distance behind the safety car.
Points
Where
Expiry Date
Reason
1
Qatar Grand Prix
1 December 2025
Failing to maintain distance behind the safety car
F1 driver penalty points
Points
Driver
Team
Next Expiry Date
8
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
30 June 2025
5
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
1 December 2025
4
Oscar Piastri
Mclaren
3 November 2025
4
Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber
29 June 2025
4
Jack Doohan
Alpine
22 March 2026
3
Lando Norris
McLaren
1 December 2025
3
Esteban Ocon
Haas
4 May 2025
3
Carlos Sainz
Williams
5 May 2025
2
Oliver Bearman
Haas
3 November 2025
2
Alexander Albon
Williams
1 December 2025
2
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
30 June 2025
2
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
1 December 2025
1
George Russell
Mercedes
1 December 2025
0
Yuki Tsunoda
Red Bull
–
0
Isack Hadjar
Racing Bulls
–
0
Gabriel Bortoleto
Sauber
–
0
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
–
0
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
–
0
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
–
0
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
–
Source
www.autosport.com