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Justin Allgaier earns NASCAR O'Reilly win at Pocono over Brent Crews

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Corey Day and Jesse Love eliminated in clumsy Lap 1, Turn 1 NASCAR O'Reilly crash

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NASCAR Cup Pocono starting lineup: Denny Hamlin earns pole as Wallace, Hocevar spin

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Drivers proud of NASCAR safety initiatives after Christopher Bell crash

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How “reset” Russell fended off “recalibrated” Hamilton for Barcelona GP pole

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The trick behind Lewis Hamilton's best qualifying result for Ferrari

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Le Mans 24h, H4: Toyota extends advantage over BMW in the evening

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FIA superlicence penalty points: Who’s closest to an F1 race ban?

Let’s look at F1 drivers’ penalty points as they tackle the last triple-header of the 2025 season

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Hector Vivas / Getty Images

Oliver Bearman remains the driver at the highest risk of incurring a Formula 1 race ban in 2025.

F1 drivers collect penalty points as they commit offences on track, with 12 points landing them a suspension for the following grand prix.

Kevin Magnussen is the only driver who ever fell foul of the penalty points system, having had to sit out the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Bearman’s favour, but the British rookie now leads the classification as the closest driver to the unwanted punishment.

Bearman collected 10 points between 3 November 2024 and 7 September 2025 for causing two collisions, overtaking under yellow flag, and failing to comply with a red flag.

This put him at direct risk for the Baku, Singapore, Austin and Mexico races, which he emerged from down to eight points, without the two incurred at Interlagos last year – but his tally rose back up to nine straight away as he squeezed Liam Lawson on the grass on that same track.

Bearman will therefore have to be cautious in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi – and early next year too, as he will next lose points on 23 May 2026, during the seventh round of the season.

Lawson, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda are next on seven points, but the former two will lose two points each on 1 December, while the current Red Bull driver’s tally won’t decrease until 14 June 2026 – the day of the ninth grand prix of the season.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Having come perilously close to a race ban earlier this year with 11 points, Max Verstappen is down to six and, if he refrains from any offences in Las Vegas and Qatar, will lose another point on 30 November.

Four drivers have a clean licence, free of any penalty points – two veterans and two rookies, namely Sauber duo Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Fernando Alonso.

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Driver penalty points

Driver Points Next points dropped
United KingdomO. BearmanHaas F1 Team 9 23.05.26 (2 points)
New ZealandL. LawsonRacing Bulls 7 01.12.25 (2 points)
CanadaL. StrollAston Martin Racing 7 01.12.25 (2 points)
JapanY. TsunodaRed Bull Racing 7 14.06.26 (2 points)
NetherlandsM. VerstappenRed Bull Racing 6 30.11.25 (1 point)
AustraliaO. PiastriMcLaren 6 08.12.25 (2 points)
FinlandV. Bottas 5 08.12.25 (5 points)
ItalyA. AntonelliMercedes 5 29.06.26 (2 points)
ThailandA. AlbonWilliams 4 01.12.25 (2 points)
AustraliaJ. Doohan 4 22.03.26 (2 points)
SpainC. SainzWilliams 4 13.04.26 (2 points)
United KingdomL. NorrisMcLaren 3 01.12.25 (3 points)
United KingdomL. HamiltonFerrari 3 31.08.26 (2 points)
FranceP. GaslyAlpine 2 03.08.26 (2 points)
United KingdomG. RussellMercedes 1 01.12.25 (1 point)
ArgentinaF. ColapintoAlpine 1 29.06.26 (1 point)
MonacoC. LeclercFerrari 1 03.08.26 (1 point)
FranceE. OconHaas F1 Team 1 07.09.26 (1 point)
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