Why Verstappen will soon lead F1's penalty points table

F1's current penalty points system has been in place since 2014, and sees drivers slapped with points for a host of mid-race infractions, such as speeding in the pit lane or forcing other drivers off the track.

Any driver who racks up 12 penalty points over the course of any 12-month period (not necessarily in one season), will earn an automatic one-race ban for the following Grand Prix.

As things stand, no driver has ever reached the 12-point mark.

Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda currently top the table with eight points each, though both drivers will drop down to seven points on 18 April, when their punishments from last year's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix are set to expire.

Similarly, Sergio Perez, who is currently on seven points, will go down to five on 18 April.

After this date, Stroll and Tsunoda will be tied at the top with Max Verstappen on seven points, though Verstappen will not drop any penalty points until September, while Tsunoda and Stroll will start losing points in June and August respectively.

This means that the World Champion will hold the dubious honour of sitting at the top of this table of miscreants, though the Dutchman is not in any immediate danger of suspension.

By contrast, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen are the only drivers with no penalty points currently to their name.