Two F1 drivers edge closer to race ban

Logan Sargeant and Lance Stroll are now more than halfway towards receiving a race ban after being involved in incidents during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Drivers that acquire 12 penalty points on their super licence across 12 months are handed a one-race ban for the next applicable event.

Since the system was introduced 10 years ago, no driver has ever reached the tally of 12 to be issued a race exclusion.

However, Sargeant is now the driver that is closest to being punished following an infringement during the race in Shanghai.

The Stewards determined that Sargeant overtook Nico Hulkenberg under a Safety Car when the latter came out of the pits. When passing the Safety Car line, Hulkenberg was ahead and Sargeant failed to yield the position.

The 23-year-old was issued a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points as a result, bringing his total to eight in the last 12 months.

The first points will not drop off Sargeant's licence until September, meaning he will have to navigate the coming months carefully in order to escape a ban.

Stroll also close to ban

Stroll was also issued with two penalty points after making contact with Daniel Ricciardo at the Turn 14 hairpin while the drivers prepared to restart from a Safety Car period.

Ricciardo was left fuming with Stroll after learning the RB driver did not claim responsibility for the clash.

Stroll's points total has been raised to seven, with his first figures set to drop in July.

The Canadian is one of two drivers on seven penalty points, as Red Bull's Sergio Perez also is more than halfway towards a race ban with points he picked up at previous rounds in 2023.