Verstappen and Bearman Escape Race Ban Threat as Penalty Points Expire

Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Haas driver Oliver Bearman have received a significant reprieve ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, as penalty points accrued from incidents a year ago have now expired. Both drivers had been precariously close to an automatic race ban, topping the disciplinary charts for much of the season.

Why it matters:

Under Formula 1 regulations, accumulating 12 penalty points within a 12-month period results in an automatic one-race ban. With Verstappen just one point shy of this threshold following his collision with George Russell in Spain, and Bearman also close, the expiration of older points removes immediate pressure, allowing them to race freely without fear of suspension.

The Details:

• Verstappen's Reduction: The reigning four-time world champion had reached 11 penalty points after the Spanish Grand Prix. Two points from a collision with Lando Norris at last year's Austrian Grand Prix expired at the end of June. More recently, two points from forcing Norris off track at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix and one point for a VSC infringement at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race have also expired.
  • This brings Verstappen's current total down to six penalty points, significantly reducing his immediate risk of a ban.
  • His next penalty point is set to expire on December 1, after the penultimate race of the 2025 season in Qatar.
• Bearman's Reduction: Oliver Bearman, who had accumulated 10 penalty points, saw two points for causing a collision with Franco Colapinto at last year's Brazilian Grand Prix expire. This reduces his total to eight penalty points.
  • Despite the reduction, Bearman remains in a somewhat precarious position, having received four points for a single incident at this year's British Grand Prix (crashing at pit entry under red flag conditions) and two points for overtaking George Russell under a red flag in Monaco Grand Prix practice.
• Historical Context: Kevin Magnussen was the first driver to receive a race ban under this system last season.

The Big Picture:

Penalty points are designed to deter dangerous driving and maintain sporting integrity. While both Verstappen and Bearman have shown aggressive tendencies that put them close to the limit, the system's rolling 12-month window ensures that past transgressions don't perpetually penalize drivers. This reset allows them to continue competing without the immediate specter of a ban hanging over their heads, particularly as the season heads into its critical final stages. Bearman's impressive fourth-place finish in Mexico also highlights his potential despite his disciplinary record.

What's next:

With their penalty point tallies reduced, both drivers can approach the upcoming races, including this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, with less immediate pressure regarding a potential race ban. However, they will still need to drive cautiously to avoid accruing new points, particularly Bearman, who remains on a relatively high eight points. The focus now shifts back to on-track performance and championship battles, rather than disciplinary concerns.