Pierre Gasly has called for a reconsideration of Formula 1’s penalty points system, highlighting concerns that drivers may be unfairly sidelined for infractions deemed non-dangerous. The Alpine driver stressed that forcing competitors to miss races can be excessive and does not always reflect actual race safety risks. This debate comes as Max Verstappen faces the possibility of a race ban after accumulating penalty points.
Background on F1’s penalty points and current situation
Formula 1 implemented the penalty points system in 2014 to deter repeated violations and maintain race safety. Drivers receive points for certain infractions, and if a driver accrues 12 points within a 12-month period, they are automatically suspended for the following race. Kevin Magnussen was the first to face this ban after the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, setting a precedent that now threatens Verstappen.
After his recent penalty in Barcelona, four-time world champion Max Verstappen is currently on 11 points. If he receives even one additional penalty point during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, he would be banned from the British Grand Prix. Notably, two of Verstappen’s existing points are set to expire on Monday after the Spielberg race, which could influence his standing.
Gasly’s perspective based on personal experience
Gasly, who once came close to the penalty threshold himself with 10 points during the 2022 season, shared his frustration with the strictness of the system. He believes the current approach does not account for the nuances of driving professionalism and the difference between risky behavior and pushing competitive limits.
“Personally, I’m not a big fan of penalty points,”
Gasly stated.
“So for me there’s something that can be reviewed [and] other ways of implying some sort of penalties without getting a risk of having a driver missing a race.”
He also emphasized that his own penalty point accumulation did not correspond with dangerous driving on track.
Support from emerging drivers questioning penalty severity
Gasly’s concerns were mirrored by Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who questioned the necessity of such harsh penalties in a sport known for its clean racing fringes.
“I copy paste from what he said,”
Hadjar remarked.
“I don’t like having penalty points, that’s for sure because then you don’t wanna end up changing your approach.”
“It’s a very clean field to be honest, so, so yeah, it’s not very needed.”
Max Verstappen declines to comment amid penalty point tension
When asked directly about the penalty points system in Austria, Verstappen chose not to offer his opinion. He also dismissed questions about whether he intended to change his racing style to avoid further points.
Responding to whether he would alter his approach, the Dutchman said,
“You’re joking? Is this like a trap? I’m getting this question every single time, every weekend. I have nothing to add.”
Implications for Verstappen and the sport
The debate over Formula 1’s penalty points system is significant as it affects one of the sport’s top figures at a critical moment. Should Verstappen receive another penalty point, the highly anticipated British Grand Prix could see him sidelined, impacting championship dynamics and fan engagement. The calls from experienced and emerging drivers alike suggest that F1 may need to reassess how penalties balance safety concerns with competitive fairness moving forward.