F1 penalty points: Top 5 delinquents before the 2025 F1 Qatar GP

The F1 penalty points system has been put in place to keep the driving standards in the sport above a certain level. These were introduced in 2014 after the driving standards took a dip in the early 2010s, and there were quite a few incidents on the track. We even had Romain Grosjean getting banned in 2012 for the first-lap incident in Belgium.

As part of the Penalty Points system, drivers are given points based on the severity of their transgressions. These transgressions could be dangerous driving, causing a collision, etc. These points stay with the driver for 12 months, after which they expire.

Any driver who ends up accumulating 12 F1 penalty points faces a race ban. As we get ready for the F1 Qatar GP, who are the biggest delinquents on the grid? Let's take a look.

F1 Penalty Points: Who is close to a ban?

#5. Max Verstappen

Penalty Points: 6

While others are accumulating points, Verstappen seems to be dropping down the delinquent list. Max Verstappen finds himself at six F1 penalty points now.

• Three points: Causing a collision with George Russell during the 2025 F1 Spanish GP (expires on June 1, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires on December 8, 2025)
• One point: Driving unnecessarily slowly in the 2024 F1 Qatar GP Qualifying (expires on December 1, 2025)

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#4. Liam Lawson

Penalty Points: 7

Liam Lawson now has seven F1 penalty points on his superlicense.

• One point: Causing a collision in the Brazilian GP (expires on November 8, 2026)
• One point: Causing a collision in the Miami GP (expires on May 3, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision in the Bahrain GP (expires on April 14, 2026)
• One point: Causing a collision in the Bahrain GP (expires on April 14, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Valtteri Bottas at the Qatar GP (expires on December 1, 2025)

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#3. Lance Stroll

Penalty Points: 7

Lance Stroll is currently at five F1 penalty points on his license.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Esteban Ocon at the US GP sprint (expires on October 20, 2026)
• Two points: Pushing another driver off track at the Canadian GP (expires on June 15, 2026)
• One point: Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc at the Monaco GP (expires on May 25, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Alex Albon at the Qatar GP (expires on December 1, 2025)

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#2. Yuki Tsunoda

Penalty Points: 7

Yuki Tsunoda picked up a penalty for causing a collision with Lance Stroll during the Brazilian GP and is at seven F1 penalty points now.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Lance Stroll during the 2025 F1 Brazilian GP (expires on November 9, 2026)
• One point: Causing a collision with Ollie Bearman during the 2025 F1 British GP (expires on July 6, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2025 F1 Austrian GP (expires on June 29, 2026)
• Two points: Overtaking under red flag conditions in the 2025 F1 Canadian GP (expires on June 14, 2026)

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#1. Ollie Bearman

Penalty Points: 9

Ollie Bearman is now alarmingly close to a race ban with 9 F1 penalty points to his name.

• One point: Causing a collision with Liam Lawson at the 2025 Brazilian GP sprint (expires on November 8, 2026).
• Four points: Red Flag infringement in the pitlane during British GP (expires July 6, 2026)
• Two points: Red Flag infringement in Monaco GP FP2 (expires on May 23, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Carlos Sainz at the 2025 Italian GP (expires on September 7, 2026).