The F1 Austrian GP is once again going to feature a lot of conversation around Max Verstappen’s 11 F1 penalty points. He is the worst offender in the sport right now, and if during the race weekend he ends up accumulating even one more point, he will face a race ban.

The F1 penalty points system was first introduced to keep the driving standards within a threshold, something that had become hard to maintain in the early 2010s. The introduction in 2014 did mean that the drivers were more compliant in terms of their conduct during a race weekend.

In more than a decade of the implementation of these penalty points, only Kevin Magnussen has crossed the 12-point threshold and hence faced a ban. As we head to the Austrian GP, who are the worst delinquents on the current grid? Let’s take a look.

F1 Penalty Points: Who is close to a ban?

#5. Oscar Piastri

Penalty Points: 4

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri picked up two F1 penalty points at the Abu Dhabi GP in 2024 for contact with Franco Colapinto, taking his total to four.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Liam Lawson at the 2024 Brazilian GP (expires on November 2, 2025)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Franco Colapinto at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires on December 8, 2025)

#4. Jack Doohan

Penalty Points: 4

Jack Doohan found himself on the wrong side a number of times during the Chinese GP. The driver accrued four F1 penalty points during the second race weekend of the season.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Gabriel Bortoleto at the Chinese GP Sprint (expires on March 22, 2026)
• Two points: Pushing a driver off the track at the Chinese GP (expires on March 23, 2026)

#3. Lance Stroll

Penalty Points: 6

Stroll has now accumulated six F1 penalty points over the past 12 months, with the latest coming at his home race.

• Two points: Pushing another driver off track at the Canadian GP (expires on June 15, 2026)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Alex Albon at the Qatar GP (expires on December 1, 2025)
• One point: Causing a collision with Charles Leclerc at the Monaco GP (expires on May 25, 2026)
• One point: Impeding during qualifying at the Monaco GP (expires on May 25, 2026)

#2. Liam Lawson

Penalty Points: 6

Lawson has six F1 penalty points, with the latest coming at the Bahrain GP and Miami GP.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Valtteri Bottas at the Qatar GP (expires on December 1, 2025)
• Two points: Causing a collision in the Bahrain GP (expires on April 14, 2026)
• One point: Causing a collision in the Bahrain GP (expires on April 14, 2026)
• One point: Causing a collision in the Miami GP (expires on May 3, 2026)

#1. Max Verstappen

Penalty Points: 11

Max Verstappen is still dangerously close to emulating Danish driver Kevin Magnussen and becoming the second driver to get banned for a race under these guidelines. The Dutch driver is at 11 F1 penalty points but will be hoping for a clean Austrian GP.

• Two points: Causing a collision with Norris at the 2024 F1 Austrian GP (expires on June 30, 2025)
• Two points: Forcing Lando Norris off track during the 2024 F1 Mexican GP (expires on October 27, 2025)
• One point: VSC infringement in the 2024 F1 Brazilian GP Sprint (expires on November 1, 2025)
• One point: Driving unnecessarily slowly in the 2024 F1 Qatar GP Qualifying (expires on December 1, 2025)
• Two points: Causing a collision with Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (expires on December 8, 2025)
• Three points: Causing a collision with George Russell during the 2025 F1 Spanish GP (expires on June 1, 2026)