F1 has yet to turn a single lap in anger in 2026 but already some drivers have the threat of a race ban hanging over their heads.
The use of penalty points in F1 is an ever-increasing talking point in the sport, with the possibility existing for drivers to be forced to sit out a race if their on-track behaviour goes against the rules too often.
What are penalty points used for in Formula 1?
Formula 1’s penalty points system is in place to keep driver behaviour under control in the same way as regular road users, with 12 points on their FIA Super Licence over a 12-month period resulting in a one-race ban.
Penalty points are issued for driver transgressions, with the amount varying depending on the severity of the incident. Once a year has passed since each particular offence, the points connected to that specific incident get wiped, meaning they have to be careful to avoid crossing that fateful 12-point threshold.
Currently closest to 12 points is Haas driver Ollie Bearman, who moved ahead of Max Verstappen in the standings at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. After another penalty point was added to his licence for erratic driving in Abu Dhabi, Bearman sits just two points away from an automatic race ban.
He will have to be careful for a long time yet, however, as his next points don’t expire until May 2026. This will mean he has seven race weekends to navigate before any points fall away from his licence.
Yuki Tsunoda has dropped to a reserve role at Red Bull, but should he race early in the year, he will start on eight penalty points, courtesy of an erratic driving penalty in Abu Dhabi.
The points are ever-evolving as new penalties are added and the previous year’s expires, so we’ve compiled a handy list of each driver’s total, and when penalty points are next due to fall away from their licences.