Kevin Magnussen turned the primary driver to obtain an automated race ban for reaching 12 penalty factors on his licence earlier this 12 months.
However certainly one of his Components 1 rivals has collected much more extra penalty factors than he has for the reason that FIA launched them. Penalty factors have been first issued to drivers in 2014, however a driver who wasn’t even on the grid that 12 months has earned probably the most since then: Max Verstappen.
Thus far the three-times world champion has managed to keep away from the identical destiny as Magnussen. Though he picked up extra penalty factors within the final two race weekends, at present he has moved additional away from the danger of a ban. The 2 factors he picked up on the Las Vegas Grand Prix 12 months in the past at present have expired, which means he’s now on 5 factors.
After all having probably the most penalty factors doesn’t essentially make him ‘baddest boy’ on the grid. As Masgnussen’s destiny reveals, drivers who decide up factors at too excessive a charge threat moving into bother. Magnussen has collected penalty factors at a median of 0.2 per grand prix weekend in comparison with Verstappen’s 0.18. Some previous drivers had even greater averages, notably Daniil Kvyat (see beneath).
Since Verstappen made his debut for Purple Bull’s second crew in 2015 (Toro Rosso, now often known as RB) he has picked up a complete of 39 penalty factors, two greater than Magnussen. He acquired eight throughout that first season alone, together with his sole three-point violation, when he was given a drive-through penalty for driving too shortly throughout a Security Automobile interval.
The next 12 months, when he was promoted to Purple Bull on the fifth spherical, Verstappen largely stayed out of bother. By the point he started his first full season as a Purple Bull driver he solely had one level on his licence. Though he bought greater than midway in the direction of a ban in 2018, via 2020 he managed to maintain a clear sheet.
Nevertheless throughout his intense battle with Lewis Hamilton, each drivers collected penalties. Out of the 4 events Verstappen picked up factors that 12 months, three have been for incidents involving his championship rival. However Verstappen repeated his title wins within the subsequent two seasons with solely a single incident deemed worthy of penalty factors annually: One for an additional conflict with Hamilton at Interlagos in 2022, after which his incident at Las Vegas a 12 months in the past at present, when the stewards discovered he pressured Charles Leclerc off the monitor at the beginning of the race.
This 12 months, Verstappen once more saved a clear sheet besides throughout essential moments in his championship battle with Lando Norris. The Purple Bull driver was deemed answerable for their collision in Austria, picked up extra penalty factors for forcing Norris off the monitor at flip 4 in Mexico (although, unfathomably, not for doing the identical once more three corners later at greater pace) and one other level for a Digital Security Automobile infringement whereas attempting to assault the McLaren pair forward of him within the dash race in Brazil.
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On his strategy to what seems like an more and more inevitable fourth world championship, Verstappen has proven a exact understanding not solely of the right way to observe the foundations, however when to threat pushing them slightly additional. And because the high 10 desk beneath reveals, different a number of champions have arguably taken the same strategy.
Verstappen’s document 39 penalty factors
Spherical
Session
Infringement
Penalty factors
2015 Monaco Grand Prix
Race
Prompted an incident with Romain Grosjean
2
2015 Hungarian Grand Prix
Race
Security Automobile rushing
3
2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Race
Left the monitor and gained a bonus
1
2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Race
Ignored blue flags
2
2016 Mexican Grand Prix
Race
Left the monitor
1
2017 Hungarian Grand Prix
Race
Prompted a collision with Daniel Ricciardo
2
2017 United States Grand Prix
Race
Left the monitor and gained a bonus
1
2018 Chinese language Grand Prix
Race
Prompted a collision with Sebastian Vettel
2
2018 Italian Grand Prix
Race
Concerned in an incident with Valtteri Bottas
2
2018 Russian Grand Prix
Qualifying
Yellow flag rushing
2
2018 Japanese Grand Prix
Race
Rejoined the monitor when it was not secure to take action
1
2019 Monaco Grand Prix
Race
Unsafe launch in entrance of Valtteri Bottas
2
2019 Mexican Grand Prix
Qualifying
Yellow flag rushing
2
2021 Italian Grand Prix
Race
Prompted a collision with Lewis Hamilton
2
2021 Qatar Grand Prix
Qualifying
Failure to respect double yellow flags
2
2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Race
Leaving the monitor and gaining an enduring benefit
1
2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Race
Braked in a way which triggered a collision with Lewis Hamilton
2
2022 Brazilian Grand Prix
Race
Prompted a collision with Lewis Hamilton
2
2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Race
Pressured Charles Leclerc off the monitor
2
2024 Austrian Grand Prix
Race
Prompted a collision with Lando Norris
2
2024 Mexican Grand Prix
Race
Pressured Lando Norris off the monitor
2
2024 Brazilian Grand Prix
Dash race
Above the minimal time at finish of Digital Security Automobile interval
1
High 10 drivers with probably the most penalty factors
*In grand prix weekends after penalty factors have been launched
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