F1 Superlicence Penalty Points: Who's Closest to a Race Ban?
Oliver Bearman is currently the F1 driver most at risk of a race ban, having accumulated 9 penalty points. With 12 points triggering a suspension, Bearman needs to be vigilant in upcoming races, while Liam Lawson, Lance Stroll, and Yuki Tsunoda also sit high on the penalty point tally. Only Kevin Magnussen has previously faced an F1 race ban under this system.
Oliver Bearman remains the driver at the highest risk of incurring a Formula 1 race ban in 2025 due to accumulated superlicence penalty points. Drivers are suspended for the following Grand Prix if they collect 12 points, a fate only Kevin Magnussen has suffered, yielding his seat to Bearman at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Bearman now leads the tally of those closest to this unwanted punishment.
Why it matters:
Formula 1's penalty point system is designed to promote safer racing by deterring reckless driving. For a young driver like Bearman, a race ban could significantly disrupt career momentum and impact future opportunities, especially as he aims to solidify his place in F1. For teams, a sudden ban forces last-minute driver changes, potentially affecting performance and championship aspirations.
The details:
- Oliver Bearman has accumulated 9 penalty points. His offenses between November 3, 2024, and September 7, 2025, include two collisions, overtaking under a yellow flag, and failing to comply with a red flag. He will next lose points on May 23, 2026, during the seventh round of the season, when 2 points expire.
- He was at direct risk for the Baku, Singapore, Austin, and Mexico races but managed to avoid a ban. His tally dipped to eight points after the Interlagos points expired but immediately rose back to nine after an incident with Liam Lawson at the same track.
- Liam Lawson, Lance Stroll, and Yuki Tsunoda are next with 7 points each. Lawson and Stroll will lose 2 points each on December 1. Tsunoda's tally will not decrease until June 14, 2026, during the ninth Grand Prix of the season, when 2 points expire.
- Max Verstappen, who came close to a ban earlier this year with 11 points, is now down to 6. He will lose another point on November 30 if he avoids offenses in Las Vegas and Qatar.
- Four drivers currently have clean licenses with no penalty points: Sauber duo Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Fernando Alonso.
Driver penalty points overview:
| Driver | Points | Next points dropped | | :----------------- | :----- | :------------------ | | O. Bearman | 9 | 23.05.26 (2 points) | | L. Lawson | 7 | 01.12.25 (2 points) | | L. Stroll | 7 | 01.12.25 (2 points) | | Y. Tsunoda | 7 | 14.06.26 (2 points) | | M. Verstappen | 6 | 30.11.25 (1 points) | | O. Piastri | 6 | 08.12.25 (2 points) | | V. Bottas | 5 | 08.12.25 (5 points) | | A. Antonelli | 5 | 29.06.26 (2 points) | | A. Albon | 4 | 01.12.25 (2 points) | | J. Doohan | 4 | 22.03.26 (2 points) | | C. Sainz | 4 | 13.04.26 (2 points) | | L. Norris | 3 | 01.12.25 (3 points) | | L. Hamilton | 3 | 31.08.26 (2 points) | | P. Gasly | 2 | 03.08.26 (2 points) | | G. Russell | 1 | 01.12.25 (1 points) | | F. Colapinto | 1 | 29.06.26 (1 points) | | C. Leclerc | 1 | 03.08.26 (1 points) | | E. Ocon | 1 | 07.09.26 (1 points) |
What's next:
Bearman will need to drive cautiously in the upcoming races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, as well as into the early part of next year, to avoid reaching the 12-point threshold. Any additional infractions could lead to him becoming the second driver to face an F1 race ban under the current system. The expiring points for other drivers will provide some relief towards the end of the year, but the constant monitoring of superlicence points remains a critical aspect of F1 driver management.