The F1 penalty points system has been instrumental in keeping driving standards under control. The entire system was first introduced in 2014 due to the lack of a concrete methodology for solving and managing driving standards.
With drivers such as Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado making a habit of getting into skirmishes, a system had to be put in place to keep the drivers under control.
Within the system, points are awarded based on the severity of the offense. If the driver scores 12 points, he is banned from the race. Since the beginning of this system, Kevin Magnussen is the only driver who faced a ban. It was imposed because the Danish driver racked up 12 F1 penalty points over a 12-month period.
As the sport prepares for the 2025 F1 season, who are the top 5 points offenders? Let’s take a look.
F1 penalty points: Who is close to a ban?
#5 Esteban Ocon
Penalty points: 3
Ocon has received three F1 penalty points in the last 12 months.
- Two points: Causing a collision with Pierre Gasly at the Monaco GP (expires 27 May 2025)
- One point: Insecure release during the Miami GP (expires May 4, 2025)
#4 Nico Hulkenberg
Penalty points: 4
Hulkenberg has four F1 penalty points.
- Two counts: Causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix (expires September 1, 2025)
- Two counts: Causing a collision with Fernando Alonso during a sprint at the 2024 Austrian GP (expires 29 June 2025)
#3 Valtteri Bottas
Penalty points: 5
Bottas collected a whopping five F1 penalty points in Abu Dhabi.
- Two points: Causing a collision with Sergio Perez at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires 12 December 2025)
- Three Points: Causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires 12 December 2025)
#2 Fernando Alonso
Penalty points: 8
Alonso collected eight F1 penalty points, including two for his jump bomb Zhou Guanyu at the 2024 Austrian GP, which also led to a 10-second penalty.
- Two counts: Causing a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the F1 Austrian GP (expires 30 June 2025)
- Three points: Carlos Sainz’s derailment at the Chinese F1 Sprint Grand Prix (expires April 20, 2025)
- Three points: “Potentially dangerous driving” against George Russell at the Australian Grand Prix (expires 24 March 2025)
#1 Max Verstappen
Penalty points: 8
Verstappen he now has eight penalty points and the driver earned two more due to the collision with Oscar Piastri.
- One point: Driving too slowly on the cooling lap at the 2024 Qatar F1 GP (expires 1 December 2025)
- One Count: Breach of VSC in 2024 Brazilian F1 Sprint GP (expires 2 November 2025)
- Two counts: Throwing Lando Norris off the track during the 2024 F1 Mexican GP (expires October 28, 2025)
- Two counts: Causing a collision with Norris at the 2024 Austrian F1 GP (expires 30 June 2025)
- Two points: Causing a collision with Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires 12 December 2025)
Edited by Aayush Kapoor
