The F1 2026 season is already shaping up to be a thriller, but for a handful of drivers, the pressure isn’t just about winning races — it’s about staying on the grid. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the FIA’s revamped penalty points system is putting two young stars dangerously close to a one-race ban.
Under the new Driving Standards Guidelines, stewards are only handing out points for moves that are truly dangerous, reckless, or deliberately unsportsmanlike. That means fewer penalties overall, but the ones that do stick can really hurt. Right now, the magic number is 12 — hit that, and you’re sitting out the next race.
Leading the pack on the penalty leaderboard are Haas driver Ollie Bearman and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, both sitting on four points. Bearman picked up his latest mark last season for a collision with Carlos Sainz in Italy, plus dangerous driving in Brazil and a defensive move in Abu Dhabi. Antonelli’s tally comes from a crash with Charles Leclerc in the Netherlands, erratic driving in Italy, and failing to slow under yellow flags in Hungary — the last of which won’t expire until July 2027.
Right behind them with three points each are Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, and Lance Stroll. Hamilton’s points come from failing to slow under double yellows in the Netherlands and a collision with Franco Colapinto in Brazil. Albon’s are from causing collisions with Colapinto in Azerbaijan and Hamilton in Las Vegas.
Stroll’s are from a sprint race clash with Esteban Ocon and a defensive move in Abu Dhabi.
Several drivers have two points, including Carlos Sainz, Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon, and Franco Colapinto each have one. Big names like Max Verstappen, George Russell, Fernando Alonso, and Lando Norris are still sitting at zero — clean records for now.
The good news for those with points is that every penalty expires exactly one year after it was handed out. For example, Bearman’s Italian GP points drop off in September, and Antonelli’s Dutch GP points vanish in August. So staying out of trouble could mean a clean slate before long.
But with half a season still to go, one aggressive move could change everything.
Will the young guns like Bearman and Antonelli tighten up their driving, or are we headed for a rookie race ban later this year?
