F1 Drivers Praise Revised Penalty Point Guidelines After Near-Clean Start to Season

Seven races into the 2026 Formula 1 season, the entire grid has accumulated just one penalty point—issued to Franco Colapinto for a yellow flag infringement in Barcelona—with no points handed out for on-track battles. The shift follows revised FIA guidelines that give stewards far greater flexibility in awarding penalty points for racing incidents.

Why it matters:

The previous system faced heavy criticism for automatically handing out points for minor collisions and optimistic overtaking, which drivers argued discouraged hard racing and threatened unfair race bans. The new framework allows stewards to separate routine wheel-to-wheel contact from genuinely dangerous conduct, a change the Grand Prix Drivers' Association has long pushed for.

The details:

• Causing collisions: Stewards may now award zero to three penalty points based on severity, rather than the previous automatic three. Esteban Ocon's clash with Colapinto in China resulted in a time penalty but no points.
• Forcing off track: No points are recommended unless the move is deemed "reckless," down from a mandatory two under the old rules.
• Blue flags: The guidelines now recommend no penalty points for ignoring blue flags, compared to one or two previously.
• Serious offenses: Incidents involving "apparent deliberate or reckless intent" still carry four penalty points.
• Driver backing: GPDA director Carlos Sainz praised the FIA's collaborative approach under race director Rui Marques, comparing current trust levels to the Charlie Whiting era.

What's next:

Drivers like Oliver Bearman—who led last year's penalty standings with eight points—say the previous system discouraged overtaking. With the new guidelines separating dangerous mistakes from standard racing contact, the grid is likely to engage in more aggressive battles knowing a single error won't jeopardize future races.