Bearman Still at Risk of Suspension: A Look Back at F1’s 2025 Penalty Points
Haas rookie enters the 2026 season on the brink of an automatic race ban.
The Penalty System Explained
Introduced in 2014 to reinforce driver discipline, the FIA penalty point system mirrors a standard driving licence. Points remain on a driver’s superlicence for a rolling 12-month period. If a driver accumulates 12 points, they are automatically suspended for the following race weekend.
To date, Kevin Magnussen (2024) remains the only driver to have reached this threshold.
The Road to 10 Points
Bearman’s tally escalated quickly during his debut season, with two major incidents defining his precarious position heading into 2026:
| Event | Infraction | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Italian GP (Monza) | Collision with Carlos Sainz | 2 Points |
| Abu Dhabi GP | Late-race technical/driving infraction | 1 Point |
| Cumulative | Various season-long minor infractions | 7 Points |
| TOTAL | Near-Threshold Tally | 10 Points |
The 2026 Outlook
The timing of the Abu Dhabi penalty is particularly damaging. Because points are only removed 12 months after the infraction, Bearman will not see his total decrease until mid-2026, specifically around the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
« I need to be really careful. The situation requires clear guidelines from the stewards because every battle now carries immense risk. »
— Oliver Bearman on the 12-point threshold.
For Haas, this creates a strategic headache. Any minor error—from track limits to pit lane speeding—could force the team to field a reserve driver at a moment’s notice.