The F1 Penalty points system has played an important role in helping to keep driving standards in check. The entire system was first introduced in 2014 due to the lack of a concrete methodology to address and manage driving standards.
With drivers like Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado making a habit of crashing, the system had to be put in place to keep the drivers in check.
As part of the system, points are awarded based on the severity of violations. If the driver reaches 12 points, he is disqualified. Since the inception of this system Kevin Magnussen is the only driver who has faced a ban. It was imposed as the Danish driver racked up 12 F1 penalty points in 12 months.
Who are the top 5 penalty offenders as the sport prepares for the 2025 F1 season? 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 highlights: Clash with Pierre Gasly at Monaco GP (ends May 27, 2025)
- One highlight: Dangerous launch during Miami GP (ends May 4, 2025)
#4 Nico Hulkenberg
Penalty points: 4
Hulkenberg has four penalty points in F1.
- Two highlights: clash with Yuki Tsunoda at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix (ends 1 September 2025)
- Two points: Causing a collision with Fernando Alonso during the 2024 Austrian GP Sprint (ends 29 June 2025)
#3 Valtteri Bottas
Penalty points: 5
Bottas earns a massive five penalty points in F1 in Abu Dhabi.
- Two highlights: Set up a clash with Sergio Perez at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (ends 12 December 2025)
- Three points: clash with Kevin Magnussen at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (ends 12 December 2025)
#2 Fernando Alonso
Penalty points: 8
Alonso has collected eight F1 penalty points, including two for his dive bomb Zhou Guanyu At the Austrian GP in 2024, this led to a 10-second time penalty.
- Two highlights: Clash with Zhou Guanyu at the Formula 1 Austrian GP (ends 30 June 2025)
- Three points: Pushing Carlos Sainz off the track in the F1 China GP Sprint (ends 20 April 2025)
- Three points: 'potentially dangerous driving' against George Russell in Australian GP (ends 24 March 2025)
#1 Max Verstappen
Penalty points: 8
Verstappen has eight penalty points, plus two points for colliding with a driver Oscar Piastri.
- One point: Driving too slowly on the cooling lap at the 2024 F1 Qatar GP (ends 1 December 2025)
- Case in point: VSC breach at 2024 F1 Brazil GP Sprint (ends 2 November 2025)
- Two points: derail Lando Norris during the 2024 F1 Mexican GP (ends October 28, 2025)
- Two dots: 2024 Formula 1 Austrian GP to clash with Norris (ends June 30, 2025)
- Two points: Set up a clash with Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (ends 12 December 2025)
Edited by Aayush Kapoor