Monitoring F1 Driver Penalty Points Over the Season

In Formula 1 racing, stewards can impose various penalties on drivers who breach regulations. These penalties range from time penalties and fines to reprimands and penalty points that accumulate on their superlicences. The penalty points system is used to monitor driver behavior throughout the season, and if a racer collects 12 or more in a 12-month period, they face a one-race ban.

Leading the Penalty Points Chart – Max Verstappen

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen currently leads with eight points on his superlicence. He has accumulated these points since the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, with additional penalties in Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. His oldest points were issued for causing a collision after crashing with Lando Norris in last year’s Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen picked up further points four months later in Mexico for forcing Norris off track during an overtake attempt around Turn 4. A week later, he was penalized for driving too quickly under virtual safety car conditions, earning him his fifth point. In Qatar, he received a penalty point for driving unnecessarily slowly during his cooldown lap in qualifying. His final points came in Abu Dhabi after colliding with McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri while attempting an audacious overtake down the inside of Turn 1.

Close Behind – Liam Lawson

Racing Point’s Liam Lawson is second on the penalty points chart, despite having only entered 15 grands prix. He picked up his first points at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix and was handed further points at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. All five of Lawson’s points were issued for causing collisions with other drivers.

His first two points came when the stewards deemed him at fault for a crash with Valtteri Bottas on Turn 1 of the race in Qatar. In Bahrain, he picked up three more points, one for crashing with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin and another for attempting an unsafe overtake on Nico Hulkenberg, resulting in a collision.

Other Drivers at Risk

Oscar Piastri (four points), Nico Hulkenberg (four points), Jack Doohan (four points), Lando Norris (three points), Esteban Ocon (three points), Carlos Sainz (three points), Oliver Bearman (two points), Alex Albon (two points), Fernando Alonso (two points), and Lance Stroll (two points) are all drivers who have accumulated penalty points.

It is crucial for these drivers to be cautious and avoid further incidents, as a one-race ban could significantly impact their performance in the championship. Fans can keep track of the penalty points system throughout the season to see how their favorite drivers fare.