F1 drivers' penalty points

How do F1 penalty points on a super licence work?

When a driver accumulates 12 penalty points over a 12-month period they are suspended for the next race. Since the introduction of this system, this has only happened once, with Kevin Magnussen in the 2024 season. However, drivers have been suspended from races before, but they were unrelated to the penalty-points system.

Penalty points on F1 drivers' super licences

The table below shows an overview of all current drivers on the grid, the number of penalty points they have on their super licences, and when these points expire. The table has been updated, up to and including the Chinese Grand Prix.

Text continues below the table.

Previous Suspensions Before the Implementation of the F1 Penalty Points System

Previously, Romain Grosjean was suspended for causing a major crash at the start of the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix (see image), and Yuji Ide was suspended after flipping Christijan Albers during the Grand Prix at Imola. Ide not only received a suspension but also had his super licence revoked. 

First Suspension Under the F1 Penalty Points System

After the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Kevin Magnussen accumulated 12 penalty points, exceeding the maximum allowed on his super licence. As a result, the Dane received a one-race suspension and missed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Magnussen is the first F1 driver to receive a suspension following the introduction of the penalty points system.