F1 Penalty Points Update: Who’s at Risk of a Race Ban in 2026?

However, a few drivers are already closer to the suspension threshold than others.

2026 F1 Penalty Points Standings After Australian Grand Prix

Several drivers begin the 2026 F1 season with points already on their licences, but a few are significantly closer than others to the FIA’s race-ban limit.

Ollie Bearman Closest to a Race Ban

Haas driver Ollie Bearman currently holds the highest total of 10 penalty points on the grid.

Bearman collected several penalties during the 2025 season, including incidents at Monaco, Silverstone, Monza, São Paulo, and Abu Dhabi. With only two points separating him from the FIA’s 12-point race-ban threshold, another incident early in the 2026 season could put him at risk of a suspension.

Relief could arrive later in the year, however. Two of Bearman’s points from the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix expire on May 23, 2026, while four additional points from the 2025 British Grand Prix expire on July 5, 2026, potentially easing the pressure as the season progresses.

Lawson and Stroll Also Carry Significant Totals

Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll each enter the 2026 season with six penalty points.

Lawson’s penalties stem from multiple collisions during the 2025 season involving drivers such as Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, and Fernando Alonso. Three of his points from the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix expire on April 13, 2026, which could reduce his total early in the season if he avoids further incidents.

Stroll’s penalty points include collisions with Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon, as well as forcing Pierre Gasly off the track during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. One of his points from Monaco 2025 expires on May 23, 2026, while other penalties will remain on his licence until later in the year.

Several Drivers Carry Mid-Range Totals

A number of drivers start the 2026 season with smaller but notable penalty point totals.

Kimi Antonelli currently has five penalty points, while Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz each carry four. Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Alex Albon sit on three penalty points, while Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto each have two.

Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto, Charles Leclerc, and Esteban Ocon currently hold one penalty point on their licences.

Drivers With Zero Penalty Points

Several drivers begin the 2026 season without any penalty points, including George Russell, Lando Norris , Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Arvid Lindblad, Isack Hadjar, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez.

With the season only just underway, many existing penalty points will gradually expire throughout the year, potentially easing the pressure on drivers currently closer to the FIA’s suspension threshold.

However, for drivers like Bearman, the margin for error remains extremely small as the championship continues.