F1 penalty points: 5 biggest delinquents

The F1 penalty points system was put in place to help prevent the driving standards fall below a threshold. In the early 2010s, first-lap incidents happened far too often and there were far too many collisions as well.

What made it worse was the lack of specific metrics that could be used to address such incidents. As a result, the F1 penalty points system was introduced, where a driver was handed penalty points for transgressions on track.

Kevin Magnussen became the first driver this season to be banned due to this system. With just 3 races left this season, who are the top 5 delinquents on the grid in terms of penalty points? Let's take a look.

F1 Penalty Points: Who is close to a ban?

#5 Sergio Perez

Penalty Points: 3

Perez has three F1 penalty points.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Lando Norris at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expire November 26, 2024)
• One point: Unsafe release in pit lane at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (expires March 9, 2025)

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#4 Nico Hulkenberg

Penalty Points: 4

Hulkenberg has four F1 penalty points currently.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix (expire on September 1, 2025)
• Two points: Pushing Fernando Alonso off track at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix (expire on June 29, 2025)

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#3 Lance Stroll

Penalty Points: 5

Stroll has collected five penalty points over the past 12 months, including a two-point penalty incurred for causing a collision with Daniel Ricciardo in China.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Daniel Ricciardo at the Chinese GP (expire on April 21, 2025)
• Three points: Overtaking under yellow flag conditions at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix (expire on November 17, 2024)

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#2 Max Verstappen

Penalty Points: 7

Verstappen now has seven penalty points, with the latest additions coming in the 2024 Brazilian GP due to his incident with Lando Norris.

• One point: VSC infringement in the 2024 F1 Brazilian GP Sprint (expires on November 2, 2025)
• Two points: Forcing Lando Norris off track during the 2024 F1 Mexican GP (expire on October 28, 2025)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Norris at the 2024 F1 Austrian GP (expire on June 30, 2025)
• Two points: Forcing Charles Leclerc off track during the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix (expire on November 19, 2024)

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#1 Fernando Alonso

Penalty Points: 8

Fernando Alonso has accumulated eight F1 penalty points. Along with a 10-second penalty, the Spaniard was handed two penalty points for a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the Austrian GP.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the F1 Austrian GP (expire June 30, 2025)
• Three points: Pushing Carlos Sainz off the track at the F1 Chinese GP Sprint (expire April 20, 2025)
• Three points: Potentially dangerous driving against George Russell at the Australian GP (expire on March 24, 2025)