F1 Penalties Explained: What are they and how do drivers get banned? (2024)

FAQs

F1 Penalties Explained: What are they and how do drivers get banned? ›

F1 has used a penalty point system since 2014 that acts as a long-term deterrent for reckless driving. Drivers receive penalty points for various offences. These points accumulate on their FIA Super Licence for 12 months and exceeding 12 points triggers an automatic one-race ban.

If a driver receives 12 penalty points on their licence they will face a race ban and will not be allowed to compete in the following grand prix. No driver has faced a race ban under the current penalty point system, which was introduced in 2014.

In modern Formula One, most disqualifications have occurred due to infringements found during post-race scrutineering; for example, Sebastian Vettel was disqualified from the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix due to insufficient fuel sample, and Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified during the 2023 United ...

Penalty points are issued for driver transgressions, with the amount varying depending on the severity of the incident and, once a year has passed since that particular offence, their points get wiped, meaning they have to be careful to avoid crossing that fateful 12-point threshold.

Sometimes, drivers receive a drive-through penalty, in which they drive through the pitlane and join the rest of the race. Or in other instances, they're hit with a 10-second stop-and-go penalty in which they pit, wait 10 seconds, have no work done to the car and join the race again.

Every time a driver exceeds the allocation for that particular part after that, they face a five-place grid penalty. Penalties occurring at the same event are also cumulative: If you go over the limit for two different parts, you get both punishments.

Suspension. The worst penalty a driver can receive and only happens in extreme circ*mstances is suspension from a number of races.

What are driver penalty points? The F1 penalty point system is in place to try and control driver behaviour and minimise racing incidents. Similar to a regular driving licence, if a driver is given 12 penalty points on their superlicence over a 12-month period, they will be punished with a one-race ban.

F1 drivers need money

From every level through karting up to Formula 1, the costs will be steep, and only become more expensive as they go through the categories. Those who are lucky enough to own a kart to begin with will need to have enough money to address mechanical issues, to enter races and much more.

George Russell has made headlines after his victory at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix was stripped from him due to a disqualification — but he's in good company.

What's an engine penalty in F1? ›

As per F1's regulations, should a driver use more power unit elements than the number permitted, a grid place penalty will be imposed upon them at the first event where each additional element is used.

Can a driver lose the super licence? Yes, they can. As described earlier, Yuji Ide's superlicence was revoked after a crash, but also if a driver does not participate in an official F1 event in three years, the superlicence will be revoked.

Jumping the start, crossing the white line on pit entry/exit, carrying out practice starts from an unpermitted location, exceeding track limits too often, being found guilty of causing a collision, falling too far back under the Safety Car – there are many, many ways drivers can pick up penalties which can hamper their ...

McLaren [2007] – $100,000,000 (€94,626,000)

Not just the largest ever fine in F1 history, McLaren were given the biggest penalty in any sport's history when they were smacked with a 100 million dollar fine in 2007.

Black Flag:

This is used to disqualify a driver and means they must return to their pit garage immediately. This flag is only waved based on the decision of the stewards.

The system is identical to points on a driver's license, where different infractions are accompanied by varying numbers of points. If a driver picks up 12 or more penalty points in the span of a year, they will earn a one race ban.

Acquire 12 penalty points in Formula 1 and you will be banned for at least one grand prix. Just like driving on the road, Formula 1 racers have to adhere to the rules or they will be punished.

How do F1 drivers get banned? F1 has used a penalty point system since 2014 that acts as a long-term deterrent for reckless driving. Drivers receive penalty points for various offences. These points accumulate on their FIA Super Licence for 12 months and exceeding 12 points triggers an automatic one-race ban.

A driver who receives 12 points within a 12-month period will be given a race ban, meaning that Magnussen is increasingly at risk of this punishment.

Verstappen's penalty stems from exceeding the allocated number of engines for the season.