The 2025 Formula 1 season concluded with a flurry of penalty point activity at the Yas Marina Circuit, as the FIA’s superlicence endorsement system once again shaped the final race weekend. Four drivers received sanctions in Abu Dhabi, bringing the season’s disciplinary ledger to a close. The penalty point regime, which triggers an automatic one-race ban when a driver accumulates twelve points within a rolling twelve-month period, saw several competitors flirt with suspension throughout the year while others managed clean slates.
Abu Dhabi finale brings final penalties
The season’s closing weekend at Yas Marina delivered sanctions to four competitors across separate incidents. Liam Lawson drew scrutiny from the stewards for unpredictable driving behaviour toward Haas rookie Oliver Bearman during the opening phase of the race, earning a single penalty point. Meanwhile, three drivers fell foul of defensive manoeuvre regulations on the straights. Yuki Tsunoda, Bearman and Lance Stroll each received one-point endorsements for repeatedly changing direction while defending position, a practice explicitly prohibited under current sporting regulations.
The conclusion of the championship calendar also triggered the expiration of several historical penalties. Oscar Piastri shed two points dating back to a collision with Franco Colapinto at the 2024 season finale. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen similarly saw two points removed from his licence, stemming from a start-line incident with Piastri at Abu Dhabi twelve months prior. These expirations provided valuable breathing room for both drivers heading into the 2026 campaign.
Bearman walks disciplinary tightrope
Among the season’s most precarious positions belonged to Haas driver Oliver Bearman, whose aggressive debut campaign left him with ten penalty points by year’s end. The British teenager accumulated endorsements across five separate race weekends, including a particularly costly four-point sanction at Silverstone for excessive speed under red flag conditions. His Monaco practice session infringement for overtaking Carlos Sainz under red flags, coupled with collision penalties in Monza and São Paulo, placed him just two points shy of an automatic suspension. The young driver will need to exercise considerable caution through the opening months of 2026 as several of these penalties remain active until autumn.
Yuki Tsunoda also navigated troubled waters throughout the season, finishing with eight points across six incidents. The Japanese driver’s endorsements ranged from a practice session overtaking violation in Canada to multiple collision penalties, culminating in his Abu Dhabi defensive driving infringement. His diverse catalogue of infractions demonstrates the breadth of behaviours monitored by race control.
Clean records for championship contenders
Several drivers managed to complete the entire season without receiving a single penalty point endorsement. Lando Norris emerged from a championship-challenging campaign with a spotless disciplinary record, as did George Russell at Mercedes. Fernando Alonso’s veteran experience showed in his ability to avoid sanctions despite hard racing throughout the field. Nico Hülkenberg and Isack Hadjar similarly navigated their seasons without steward intervention, though Hadjar’s limited experience as a rookie makes his clean slate particularly noteworthy.
The contrast between these unblemished records and the multiple endorsements collected by others highlights the fine margins between aggressive racing and rule violations. The FIA’s 2023 instruction to exercise restraint in penalty point distribution appeared to have some effect, though collision-related endorsements increased in 2024 and maintained that elevated level throughout 2025.
Rookies face steep learning curve
The 2025 season featured an unusually large rookie contingent, and several newcomers struggled with the disciplinary aspects of Formula 1 competition. Beyond Bearman’s ten-point tally, fellow rookie Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes collected five points across three incidents, including collision penalties with Verstappen in Austria and Charles Leclerc in the Netherlands. Gabriel Bortoleto received a two-point endorsement for causing a collision with Stroll in Las Vegas, while Jack Doohan accumulated four points across the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
These figures suggest the intensity of modern Formula 1 racing presents significant challenges for drivers adapting from junior categories. The penalty point system, designed to curb dangerous or unsporting behaviour, appears to catch rookies more frequently as they adjust to the precision required at motorsport’s highest level. For teams managing these young talents, the balance between encouraging aggressive racing and maintaining licence security will remain a priority through 2026.
System dynamics heading into 2026
The penalty point landscape entering next season presents several narratives worth monitoring. Bearman’s precarious position means any significant infringement could trigger Formula 1’s first race ban under the current system. Tsunoda’s eight-point tally similarly leaves limited margin for error, particularly given his history of contact incidents. For drivers with mid-range totals like Lawson (six points) and Stroll (six points), the rolling twelve-month expiration schedule will prove crucial as older penalties fall away throughout the season.
The penalty point framework continues to generate debate within the paddock regarding consistency and proportionality. While collision-causing infractions typically warrant two-point endorsements, the variation in circumstances makes direct comparisons challenging. As Formula 1 heads into its next campaign, the disciplinary dimension will remain an underlying factor shaping both individual careers and team strategies, particularly for those competitors already carrying substantial points on their superlicences.
