F1 Penalty Points: Top 10 most penalized drivers of all time
The F1 penalty point system was introduced in 2014 as drivers were punished for their on-track infringements. The FIA gave time penalties for the infringements during the races, while also adding some points on the drivers' super licenses based on the severity of the respective incidents.
It has become a common practice for the race stewards to dish out penalty points to a driver's super license which has a year-long expiration date. A total of 12 points in a single year could see a driver getting banned from a race. Below is the list of ten F1 drivers who have amassed the most amount of points since 2014:
#1 Red Bull F1's Max Verstappen- 39 points
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is the most penalized driver of all time, given he has amassed 39 points since 2014 on his super license. The three-time world champion made his debut in the pinnacle of motorsport in 2015 and quickly built a reputation for himself for being a no-holds-barred driver.
His ruthless driving style has earned him seven points in the 2024 season, with two of his penalty points expiring in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.
#2 Sergio Perez- 36 points
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez finds himself second on the list with 36 penalty points. The Mexican has claimed 7 points in three separate seasons, 2018, 2021, and 2023, and is known for his aggressive driving style on the track.
The six-time race winner will have an opportunity to relinquish two points at the end of November which would see him with one penalty point on his license.
#3 Kevin Magnussen- 36 points
The Dane has earned himself a reputation for being a menace on the track, given that he never backs down in a wheel-to-wheel battle. The 32-year-old became the first driver since his former Haas F1 teammate Romain Grosjean to get a race ban to his name in Monza this year.
The 2014 Australian GP podium sitter had amassed 12 points up until the Italian GP and had to sit out the race in Baku. However, heading into the possible final three races of his career, Magnussen has a clean slate in terms of penalty points.
#4 Lance Stroll- 36 points
Since making his debut in 2017, Lance Stroll has found himself in many a tussle on the track over the years. The Canadian driver often makes mistakes while behind the wheel and is tied with Magnussen and Perez on 36 penalty points.
He is currently on five penalty points and could see his tally being reduced to two after three points expire from his super license on November 17.
#5 Sebastian Vettel- 32 points
The former four-time world champion had a tricky time after leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2014 season as he joined Ferrari in 2015. Sebastian Vettel often found himself on the receiving end of complaints from fellow F1 drivers as he made desperate moves to get in front on track.
He retired at the end of the 2022 season with 32 points to his name from 2015 to his final year with Aston Martin, with seven points in 2019 being his highest in a season.
#6 Daniil Kvyat- 26 points
The former Red Bull and AlphaTauri driver was notorious for his dangerous moves on the track in his stop-start F1 career from 2014 to 2020. The Russian was cheekily called 'Torpedo' by Sebastian Vettel after he had two incidents with the German in 2016 and was subsequently dropped by the Austrian team in favor of Max Verstappen.
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Daniil Kvyat got 15 points on his license and in his final year in 2020 had four to his name to take his tally to 26 points.
#7 Fernando Alonso- 26 points
The most experienced F1 driver of all time finds himself seventh on the list of most penalized with 26 points. Fernando Alonso is known for his feisty and never-back-down approach during races, which has often proved costly for him in his battles with fellow F1 drivers.
The Aston Martin driver is currently top of the list in terms of penalty points with eight in the 2024 season and will only have the opportunity to reduce his tally next year.
#8 Romain Grosjean- 23 points
Like his ex-Haas F1 teammate Kevin Magnussen, Romain Grosjean had built himself a reputation for being a dangerous and unpredictable driver in wheel-to-wheel combat. He got a race ban in 2012 before the introduction of penalty points in 2014 after his iconic crash at Turn 1 at Spa.
Running in the midfield in 2017 and 2018, he amassed a total of 13 points due to his erratic driving style and retired in 2020 with two points.
#9 Esteban Ocon- 22 points
The Alpine F1 driver is known for never giving an inch to his rivals on the track in wheel-to-wheel combat and has become one of the toughest racers in the sport.
In his final year with Force India, the French driver showcased some dangerous driving and got six points to his tally. He currently has three penalty points that will expire next year.
#10 Nico Hulkenberg- 21 points
Although usually a clean racer, Nico Hulkenberg finds himself in the Top 10 of most penalized F1 drivers with 21 points. His 2017 season stands out as his most reckless given that he earned five points with Renault in his bid to take the car in the midfield.
The German driver has earned himself four penalty points in the 2024 season that will stay until the F1 Austrian GP next year.