Charles Leclerc was a popular name among the F1 aficionados after a remarkable victory in front of the home crowd. However, the F1 penalty system was as popular as the Ferrari triumph during an exciting Italian GP. Besides skillful driving, the Monza crowd witnessed some close calls, forcing FIA to work overtime.
Moreover, Kevin Magnussen was rewarded with a race ban as his penalty points count reached 12. Once the count is 12, the driver can’t race. Surprisingly, this is the first occasion a driver has been banned since the implementation of the new penalty system in 2014. Below is the complete list of penalty points for the rest of the drivers in 2024.
Penalty Point Updated: Which Driver Could Be Next On The ‘Race Ban’ List
First up is Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to receive a penalty point in the last twelve months. Next, his Mercedes partner, George Russell, has two points in his penalty account. He got a penalty for causing a collision with Max Verstappen last year in Las Vegas. Talking about the Dutchman, he currently has 4 penalty points. He got two points during the Austrian GP collision with Norris, while the other two in last year’s Las Vegas race. Further, his teammate Sergio Perez is near the danger line with 8 points. However, he will be relieved of 5 points in September, leaving him with 3 points. However, the Ferarri pair is in no danger, with Charles Leclerc getting zero penalties, while Carlos Sainz is safe with a single point. Similarly, the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are safe with zero points in the past 12 months.
The Aston Martin duo has been on the FIA’s radar. Fernando Alonso received an 8-point penalty, while Lance Stroll currently has 5. Alonso would have to drive cautiously, as 4 more points could impose a ban. Among the Alpine duo, Esteban Ocon has 3 points, two of which are for a collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly. Meanwhile, Gasly maintains a clean sheet with zero penalty points. The VCARB driver, Yuki Tsunoda, also has a clean sheet, while his teammate Daniel Ricciardo has two points. Franco Colapinto, Alex Albon, and Guanyu Zhou maintain a clean slate with zero points. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hulkenberg have 2 and 4 points, respectively. The Haas racer Kevin Magnussen became the first driver to be rewarded 12 points within a year. Thus, he won’t be able to drive in the races.
Christian Horner Casts Doubt On McLaren, Mercedes Flexi-Wings Verdict By FIA
Christian Horner addressed the clarity of the regulations and how they are primarily the responsibility of the FIA. He acknowledged that while Red Bull’s car passed the necessary tests, the situation highlighted how the regulations were worded and interpreted. Drawing a parallel to the 2021 season, particularly around the Baku race, teh Briton recalled a change in the front-wing regulations despite Red Bull’s compliance with the tests. This change was made to address issues related to aeroelasticity.
Moreover, Horner emphasized that this matter is ultimately for the FIA to handle and expressed confidence in their ability to do so. However, he also noted that if such interpretations of the regulations are deemed acceptable, then Red Bull may consider adapting to the same approach to remain competitive.
