During a Formula 1 race weekend, FIA stewards are tasked with ensuring drivers follow rules by issuing penalties, such as time penalties, fines, and penalty points on a driver’s superlicence. The penalty point system was introduced to monitor driver behavior over a season, where drivers receive points for unsafe practices on track, and if they accumulate 12 or more points in a year, they face a one-race ban.
The latest driver to receive a one-race ban was Kevin Magnussen after accumulating 12 penalty points before the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Currently, Max Verstappen leads with eight penalty points, earned since the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, with additional sanctions in subsequent races in Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen faced penalties for causing collisions, forcing another driver off track, and driving too quickly under virtual safety car conditions. Another driver, Liam Lawson, has accrued six superlicence penalty points for causing collisions during his career, with his most recent penalty at the Miami GP sprint race. This strict monitoring system aims to maintain safety and fair play on the Formula 1 track.
