Driver penalty points ahead of 2025 Qatar F1 GP

epfpmoran November 25, 2025 0

The new F1 penalty points system was introduced in 2014 to bring driving standards on the grid back to a respectable level. This was a reaction to the sharp decline in the sport in the early 2010s. In the early 2010s, first-round incidents were common.

There were also far too many collisions, with drivers like Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado making a habit of them. What made the situation worse was that no specific measures were in place to prevent this.

This is precisely why F1's new penalty points system was introduced in 2014, whereby a driver was given penalty points for any on-track transgressions. In the last decade since these rules came into effect, only one driver has competed in a race. Kevin Magnussen became the first driver last season to be banned under the system.

As we prepare for the Qatar F1 GP, how does each driver stack up in terms of penalty points? Let's take a look.

F1 penalty points ahead of Qatar GP

#1. Lando Norris

Penalty points: 3

Lando Norris has three F1 penalty points to his name which will expire in December.

  • Three points: Ignore yellow flags during the 2024 F1 Qatar GP (expiring December 1, 2025)

#2. Oscar Piastri

Penalty points: 6

Oscar Piastri picked up a few more in Brazil. He is on six penalty points at the moment.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc during the 2025 Brazilian GP (expires November 9, 2026)
  • Two points: Erratic braking in front of Max Verstappen before a restart (expires July 6, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires December 8, 2025)

#3. Charles Leclerc

Penalty points: 1

Ferrari's leading driver was handed a one-point penalty for erratic driving as he attempted to defend against George Russell in Hungary.

  • One point: erratic driving while defending against George Russell at the Hungarian F1 GP (expires August 3, 2026)

#4. Lewis Hamilton

Penalty points: 3

The seven-time F1 champion was handed a one-point penalty for his incident with Franco Colapinto. He is now at 3 points.

  • One point: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2025 F1 Brazilian GP (expires November 1, 2026)
  • Two points: for failing to slow down under yellow flags during a reconnaissance lap before the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix (expires August 31, 2026)

#5. Max Verstappen

Penalty points: 6

While others are racking up points, Verstappen seems to be moving down the list of offenders. Max Verstappen now finds himself on six penalty points in F1.

  • Three points: Causing a collision with George Russell during the 2025 F1 Spanish GP (expires June 1, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Oscar Piastri during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires December 8, 2025)
  • One point: driving unnecessarily slow during 2024 Qatar F1 GP qualifying (expires December 1, 2025)

#6. Yuki Tsunoda

Penalty points: 7

Yuki Tsunoda received a penalty for causing a collision with Lance's Walk during the Brazilian GP and is now seven penalty points away in F1.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Lance Stroll during the 2025 F1 Brazilian GP (expires November 9, 2026)
  • One point: causing a collision with Ollie Bearman during the 2025 F1 British GP (expires July 6, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto during the 2025 F1 Austrian GP (expires June 29, 2026)
  • Two points: Red flag overtaking during the 2025 F1 Canadian GP (expires June 14, 2026)

#7. George Russell

Penalty points: 1

George Russell has one F1 penalty point to his name.

  • One point: SC violation during 2024 Qatar F1 GP (expires December 1, 2025)

#8. Kimi Antonelli

Penalty points: 5

Kimi Antonelli had a disastrous incident with Charles Leclerc at Zandvoort and is now on 5 penalty points in F1.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc during the 2025 F1 Dutch GP (expires August 31, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Max Verstappen during the 2025 F1 Austrian GP (expires June 29, 2026)
  • One point: forcing another driver off the track during the 2025 F1 Italian GP (expires September 7, 2026)

#9. Fernando Alonso

Penalty points: 0

Fernando Alonso has lost his last two penalty points in F1 and now has a clean slate this season.

#10. Lance's Walk

Penalty points: 7

Lance Stroll currently has five F1 penalty points on his license.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Esteban Ocon during the US GP sprint (expires October 20, 2026)
  • Two points: push another driver off track at Canadian GP (expires June 15, 2026)
  • One point: Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc at the Monaco GP (expires May 25, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Alex Albon at the Qatar GP (expires December 1, 2025)

#11. Pierre Gasly

Penalty points: 2

Pierre Gasly opened his account again, because he was penalized for causing a collision with Carlos Sainz.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Carlos Sainz at the Hungarian GP (expires August 3, 2026)

#12. Franco Colapinto

Penalty points: 1

Franco Colapinto is one penalty point away, having last won points in Austria.

  • One point: pushing a driver off the track during the 2025 F1 Austrian GP (expires June 29, 2026)

#13. Esteban Ocon

Penalty points: 1

Esteban Ocon has one F1 penalty point to his name.

  • One point: force Lance Stroll off the track during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix (expires September 7, 2026)

#14. Ollie Bearman

Penalty points: 9

Ollie Bearman is now very close to a racing ban with 9 F1 penalty points to his name.

  • One point: causing a collision with Liam Lawson during the 2025 Brazilian GP sprint (expires November 8, 2026).
  • Four points: pit lane red flag violation at British GP (expires July 6, 2026)
  • Two points: red flag violation during Monaco GP FP2 (expires May 23, 2026)
  • Two points: Cause a collision with Carlos Sainz during the 2025 Italian GP (expires September 7, 2026).

#15. Liam Lawson

Penalty points: 7

Liam Lawson now has seven F1 penalty points on his superlicense.

  • One point: Causing a collision during the Brazilian GP (expires November 8, 2026)
  • One point: Causing a collision during the Miami GP (expires May 3, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision during the Bahrain GP (expires April 14, 2026)
  • One point: Causing a collision during the Bahrain GP (expires April 14, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Valtteri Bottas at the Qatar GP (expires December 1, 2025)

#16. Isack Hadjar

Penalty points: 0

Isack Hadjar continues to keep his slate clean for the moment.

#17. Carlos Sainz

Penalty points: 4

Carlos Sainz now has two penalty points, the Spaniard having been able to earn his right of review.

  • Two points: Causing a collision with Kimi Antonelli during the United States GP (expires October 20, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision during the Bahrain GP (expires April 14, 2026)

#18. Alex Albon

Penalty points: 5

Alex Albon has five F1 penalty points on his license.

  • One point: Causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Las Vegas GP (expires November 23, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto at the Azerbaijan GP (expires September 21, 2026)
  • Two points: Causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen at the Qatar GP (expires December 1, 2025)

#19. Nico Hulkenberg

Penalty points: 0

Nico has no F1 penalty points on his license.

#20. Gabriel Bortoléto

Penalty points: 0

The Brazilian rookie triggered a major collision at the start of the race in Las Vegas. He is now two penalty points away in F1.

  • Two points: Cause a collision with Lance Stroll at the Las Vegas GP (expires November 23, 2026)