The start of the 2026 Formula 1 season is here, with the 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne set to launch a new era of the sport under revised technical regulations.
F1 penalty points before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix
- The driver carrying the most penalty points into the 2026 Formula 1 season is Ollie Bearman with 10 points, leaving him two points away from an automatic race ban.
- Liam Lawson and Lance Stroll are next on the list with six points each, while rookie Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli begins the season with five penalty points.
- Several drivers — including Lando Norris, George Russell, Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez — currently hold zero penalty points on their Super Licence.
While teams effectively begin the campaign with a fresh competitive slate, the same cannot be said for every driver. Several of them will arrive in Australia carrying penalty points on their FIA Super Licence, as these remain active for 12 months from the date they are issued.
Under the FIA’s penalty system, any driver who accumulates 12 penalty points within a 12-month period receives an automatic one-race suspension.
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There has also been particular attention on Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas following a grid penalty he received during his final Formula 1 appearance with Kick Sauber at the end of the 2024 season. However, it has now been confirmed that the Finnish driver will not have to serve that penalty at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
According to the FIA Sporting Regulations, penalties of this nature expire after a year. As stated in article B2.5.4 of the latest regulations:
“As stated in article B2.5.4 of the latest sporting regulations ‘classified drivers who have 15 or less cumulative unserved grid penalties for the Race imposed in the previous twelve (12) months will be allocated a temporary grid position equal to their Qualifying session classification plus the sum of their unserved grid penalties.'”
Because Bottas’ five-place grid penalty was issued more than 12 months ago, it has now fallen outside the applicable time window and therefore does not need to be served.
How many penalty points does each F1 driver have in 2026?
Below is a full breakdown of the penalty points currently held by every Formula 1 driver ahead of the 2026 season opener in Melbourne.
F1 penalty points standings before the 2026 season
McLaren
McLaren heads into the new season with one driver carrying penalty points and the other with a clean licence.
Lando Norris: 0 penalty points
Oscar Piastri: 4 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 British Grand Prix | Erratic braking on the straight before Safety Car restart | July 6, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Kimi Antonelli | November 9, 2026 |
Mercedes
Mercedes also starts 2026 with only one driver holding active penalty points, all accumulated during Antonelli’s rookie season.
George Russell: 0 penalty points
Kimi Antonelli: 5 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Austrian Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Max Verstappen | June 29, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 Dutch Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc | August 31, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Italian Grand Prix | Driving erratically | September 7, 2026 |
Red Bull
Red Bull’s drivers begin the season in a relatively comfortable position regarding penalty points.
Max Verstappen: 3 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2025 Spanish Grand Prix | Causing a collision with George Russell | June 1, 2026 |
Isack Hadjar: 0 penalty points
Ferrari
Ferrari’s two drivers hold a combined total of four penalty points heading into the season opener.
Charles Leclerc: 1 penalty point
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix | Erratic driving | August 3, 2026 |
Lewis Hamilton: 3 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Dutch Grand Prix | Failing to slow under double yellow flags at pit entry pre-race | August 31, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto | November 9, 2026 |
Williams
Both Williams drivers start the year with points on their licences, although some will expire early in the season.
Alex Albon: 3 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto | September 1, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton | November 23, 2026 |
Carlos Sainz: 4 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix | Forcing Kimi Antonelli off the track | April 13, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 United States Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Kimi Antonelli | October 19, 2026 |
Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls have one of the highest totals on the grid through Lawson’s six penalty points.
Liam Lawson: 6 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Lance Stroll | April 13, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Nico Hulkenberg | April 13, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Miami Grand Prix Sprint | Causing a collision with Fernando Alonso | May 2, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint | Causing a collision with Ollie Bearman | November 8, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Driving erratically | December 7, 2026 |
Arvid Lindblad: 0 penalty points
Aston Martin
Aston Martin begins the season with a split record between their drivers.
Fernando Alonso: 0 penalty points
Lance Stroll: 6 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 Monaco Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc in practice | May 23, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 Canadian Grand Prix | Forcing Pierre Gasly off the track | June 15, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 United States Grand Prix Sprint | Causing a collision with Esteban Ocon | October 18, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Changing direction too many times | December 7, 2026 |
Haas
Haas carries the most penalty points on the grid through Bearman’s total.
Ollie Bearman: 10 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Monaco Grand Prix | Overtaking under red flags in practice | May 23, 2026 |
| 4 | 2025 British Grand Prix | Crashing under red flags in practice | July 5, 2026 |
| 2 | 2025 Italian Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Carlos Sainz | September 7, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint | Causing a collision with Liam Lawson | November 8, 2026 |
| 1 | 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Changing direction too many times | December 7, 2026 |
Esteban Ocon: 1 penalty point
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 Italian Grand Prix | Forcing Lance Stroll off the track | September 7, 2026 |
Audi
Audi begins the season with only one driver holding penalty points.
Nico Hulkenberg: 0 penalty points
Gabriel Bortoleto: 2 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Lance Stroll | November 23, 2026 |
Alpine
Both Alpine drivers carry relatively low totals entering the new season.
Pierre Gasly: 2 penalty points
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix | Causing a collision with Carlos Sainz | August 3, 2026 |
Franco Colapinto: 1 penalty point
| Points | Grand Prix | Reason | Expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 Austrian Grand Prix | Forcing Oscar Piastri off the track | June 29, 2026 |
Cadillac
Cadillac’s drivers arrive in Melbourne with clean licences.
Sergio Perez: 0 penalty points
Valtteri Bottas: 0 penalty points*
*As mentioned above, Bottas’ five-place grid penalty from the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen no longer applies.
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