Tension Mounts in F1: British GP Sparks Race Ban for…read more
The tension in the 2025 Formula 1 season has taken a new turn following the British Grand Prix, as several top drivers now find themselves in danger of facing a race ban due to accumulating too many penalty points. The recent events at Silverstone have reshuffled the penalty points leaderboard, putting pressure on some of the sport’s biggest names as the championship battle intensifies.
While the British Grand Prix was a momentous occasion for Lando Norris — who clinched his first-ever home victory in front of an electrified Silverstone crowd — it was far less triumphant for fellow Brit Ollie Bearman. The 20-year-old Haas driver, who was hoping to make a strong impression in his debut British GP weekend, instead found himself at the center of controversy after a high-speed pit lane incident during Saturday’s practice session.
Bearman entered the pit lane at an alarming 260 km/h during Free Practice 3, ultimately losing control and crashing into the barriers. This reckless move didn’t just end his session prematurely but also earned him the harshest punishment the stewards could hand out: four penalty points in one weekend. These latest additions brought his total to eight, meaning he’s now just four points away from the 12-point limit that triggers an automatic one-race suspension. For a young driver trying to make his mark in F1, the looming risk of a ban could have serious implications on his development and his place in the team.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also added to his own tally after receiving a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points for erratic braking behavior under the safety car at Silverstone. This brings the championship leader’s total to six points. Although not in immediate danger, another couple of mistakes could put him in a much more precarious position.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, however, continues to top the penalty points chart with a staggering nine points to his name. The Dutchman entered the Austrian Grand Prix already on the brink of a race ban with 11 points, but a first-lap retirement in that race spared him from potentially picking up any more. Still, with nine points remaining on his record, Verstappen is only three away from suspension, and the threat to his championship hopes is very real.
Here’s a closer look at the penalty points situation post-British GP:
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Current F1 2025 Penalty Points Leaderboard
Driver Team Points
Max Verstappen Red Bull 9
Ollie Bearman Haas 8
Oscar Piastri McLaren 6
Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 6
Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull 4
Jack Doohan Alpine 4
Lando Norris McLaren 3
Lance Stroll Aston Martin 3
Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 2
Nico Hulkenberg Sauber 2
Carlos Sainz Williams 2
Alex Albon Williams 2
Franco Colapinto Alpine 1
George Russell Mercedes 1
Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 0
Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 0
Charles Leclerc Ferrari 0
Pierre Gasly Alpine 0
Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 0
Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber 0
Esteban Ocon Haas 0
Penalty Details by Team
Red Bull
Max Verstappen has racked up nine penalty points through a series of on-track incidents dating back to 2024. These include forcing Norris off track (Mexico, 2 points), failing VSC minimums (Brazil Sprint, 1 point), slow driving during qualifying (Qatar, 1 point), and a collision with Piastri (Abu Dhabi, 2 points). His most recent penalty came at the 2025 Spanish GP (details unspecified).
Yuki Tsunoda sits on four points for overtaking under red flag conditions (Canada, 2 points) and a separate incident at Austria.
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both remain spotless with zero penalty points.
⚫ Mercedes
George Russell received one point in Qatar 2024 for failing to maintain proper safety car distance.
Kimi Antonelli earned two points after causing a collision with Verstappen at the Austrian GP.
Alpine
Jack Doohan has four points from collisions in China (both Sprint and main race).
Franco Colapinto has one point from forcing Piastri off the track in Austria.
Pierre Gasly holds a clean record.
McLaren
Lando Norris holds three points for failing to slow for double yellow flags in Qatar.
Oscar Piastri has six points total from incidents in Brazil (collision with Lawson), Abu Dhabi (collision with Colapinto), and his latest at Silverstone for safety car infringement.
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso is one of the few with a perfect record.
Lance Stroll sits on three points due to incidents with Albon (Qatar) and Leclerc (Monaco).
⚪ Haas
Esteban Ocon has no points.
Ollie Bearman, however, is on eight points from three major infractions: colliding with Colapinto (Brazil), overtaking under red flags (Monaco), and failing to comply with a red flag during FP3 at Silverstone.
Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson has six points for a string of collisions across Qatar, Bahrain (two separate incidents), and Miami.
Isack Hadjar remains penalty-free.
Williams
Carlos Sainz received two points in Bahrain for forcing another driver off the track.
Alex Albon earned two in Qatar for a collision with Kevin Magnussen.
Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg has two points for a collision with Tsunoda in Italy.
Gabriel Bortoleto is among the few drivers without penalty points.
What Happens Next?
Penalty points remain on a driver’s record for 12 months from the date of the offence. If a driver reaches 12 within that period, they face an automatic one-race ban — a significant penalty that could drastically impact the title fight or a team’s performance.
The close margins in the championship make the consequences even more severe. Verstappen, Bearman, and Piastri must now exercise greater caution in the remaining races to avoid suspension. With tight racing, unpredictable weather, and fierce competition, the pressure is on.
The FIA continues to take a hardline approach to unsafe driving, and the data from the British Grand Prix proves that even the most seasoned stars can slip up. As the second half of the season unfolds, the penalty points chart could be just as critical as the championship standings in deciding the fate of the 2025 F1 season.
