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The F1 penalty points system was first introduced in 2014 by the FIA to keep driving standards above a certain threshold. As part of the system, points were given on the basis of driver transgressions. These violations could be anything from dangerous driving, causing a collision, pushing a driver off track, etc.
This season, ahead of the F1 race in Baku, Kevin Magnussen became the first driver to face a race ban under this system. The Danish driver had accrued as many as 12 F1 penalty points in the last 12 months and hence had to miss the race. As we head to the race in Qatar, how do the drivers stack up in terms of F1 penalty points? Let's take a look.
F1 Penalty Points: Who is close to a ban?
#5. Max Verstappen
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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)
#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)
#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)
#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)
#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).
