FIA superlicence penalty points: Who’s closest to an F1 race ban?
Let’s look at F1 drivers’ penalty points as they tackle the last triple-header of the 2025 season
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman remains the driver at the highest risk of incurring a Formula 1 race ban in 2025.
F1 drivers collect penalty points as they commit offences on track, with 12 points landing them a suspension for the following grand prix.
Kevin Magnussen is the only driver who ever fell foul of the penalty points system, having had to sit out the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Bearman’s favour, but the British rookie now leads the classification as the closest driver to the unwanted punishment.
Bearman collected 10 points between 3 November 2024 and 7 September 2025 for causing two collisions, overtaking under yellow flag, and failing to comply with a red flag.
This put him at direct risk for the Baku, Singapore, Austin and Mexico races, which he emerged from down to eight points, without the two incurred at Interlagos last year – but his tally rose back up to nine straight away as he squeezed Liam Lawson on the grass on that same track.
Bearman will therefore have to be cautious in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi – and early next year too, as he will next lose points on 23 May 2026, during the seventh round of the season.
Lawson, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda are next on seven points, but the former two will lose two points each on 1 December, while the current Red Bull driver’s tally won’t decrease until 14 June 2026 – the day of the ninth grand prix of the season.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Having come perilously close to a race ban earlier this year with 11 points, Max Verstappen is down to six and, if he refrains from any offences in Las Vegas and Qatar, will lose another point on 30 November.
Four drivers have a clean licence, free of any penalty points – two veterans and two rookies, namely Sauber duo Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Fernando Alonso.
Driver penalty points
| Driver | Points | Next points dropped |
|---|---|---|
 O. BearmanHaas F1 Team |
9 | 23.05.26 (2 points) |
 L. LawsonRacing Bulls |
7 | 01.12.25 (2 points) |
 L. StrollAston Martin Racing |
7 | 01.12.25 (2 points) |
 Y. TsunodaRed Bull Racing |
7 | 14.06.26 (2 points) |
 M. VerstappenRed Bull Racing |
6 | 30.11.25 (1 point) |
 O. PiastriMcLaren |
6 | 08.12.25 (2 points) |
 V. Bottas |
5 | 08.12.25 (5 points) |
 A. AntonelliMercedes |
5 | 29.06.26 (2 points) |
 A. AlbonWilliams |
4 | 01.12.25 (2 points) |
| J. Doohan |
4 | 22.03.26 (2 points) |
 C. SainzWilliams |
4 | 13.04.26 (2 points) |
| L. NorrisMcLaren |
3 | 01.12.25 (3 points) |
| L. HamiltonFerrari |
3 | 31.08.26 (2 points) |
 P. GaslyAlpine |
2 | 03.08.26 (2 points) |
| G. RussellMercedes |
1 | 01.12.25 (1 point) |
 F. ColapintoAlpine |
1 | 29.06.26 (1 point) |
 C. LeclercFerrari |
1 | 03.08.26 (1 point) |
| E. OconHaas F1 Team |
1 | 07.09.26 (1 point) |
Share Or Save This Story
Alpine’s 2026 F1 form no surprise to Racing Bulls
Romain Grosjean turns 40 – here’s his career in 10 key moments
Niels Wittich: Michael Masi a “scapegoat” who “didn’t do much wrong” at Abu Dhabi 2021
Fernando Alonso shares touching gift from F1 after birth of son
These are the youngest F1 drivers to lead the world championship
What's next for Aston Martin and Honda after torrid start to F1 2026?
Bernd Maylander explains how 1994 San Marino GP tragedy transformed F1’s safety car system
Robert Wickens impresses in GTD qualifying at Long Beach
2026 IMSA Long Beach starting lineup: Nick Yelloly takes pole, Lexus fails tech
Laurin Heinrich: “It’s a compliment that everyone is afraid of me”
The political shift that will determine F1's next engine formula
Is it now or never for Russell in hunt for F1 title?
The top 11 lost F1 victories after the flag
The remnant of the V10 era in F1's previous switch to V8 engines
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments