sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
F1 issued bans to eight drivers including legend of the sport after breaking official rules

Home> F1

Published 13:02 26 Feb 2025 GMT

F1 issued bans to eight drivers including legend of the sport after breaking official rules

Eight F1 drivers have previously received race bans of differing lengths.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Formula 1 is one of the most strictly-regulated sports in the world - and drivers can sometimes fall foul of those rules.

Under current FIA rules, F1 drivers receive a race ban if they compile 12 penalty points on their Super Licence over a 12-month period.

Out of the current grid, reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen is the closest to incurring a ban, having picked up eight penalty points over the last 12 months.

Verstappen must stay out of trouble up until the Austrian Grand Prix, which is when the first two of his penalty points will be 'refreshed' and removed from his Super Licence.

Advert

But that is not the only reason why drivers have incurred race bans in the past, with racers occasionally given severe bans for causing specific accidents or even for off-track behaviour.

Let's take a look at all eight instances.

Kevin Magnussen (2024)

Former Haas driver Kevin Magnussen pictured (Image: Getty)
Former Haas driver Kevin Magnussen pictured (Image: Getty)

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was forced to sit out last season's Azerbaijan Grand Prix after collecting 12 penalty points on his licence.

The Dane became the first driver to be banned from a Grand Prix for 12 years, and watched on as substitute Ollie Bearman picked up one point for 10th place in Baku.

Magnussen would return to the car for the United States Grand Prix, where he was on course for a points finish but a strategy error meant he finished 11th.

Romain Grosjean (2012)

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was banned by the FIA after causing a multi-car pile-up on the first lap of the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix.

The Frenchman moved across on McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, with the Brit being forced to take to the grass. That started a chain reaction, with an airborne Grosjean then collecting Fernando Alonso and both Sauber cars heading into turn one.

Grosjean was deemed to be at fault for what race stewards described as 'an extremely serious breach of the regulations'.

He was replaced by Jerome D'Ambrosio for the subsequent Italian Grand Prix before returning to the car.

Jacques Villeneuve (1997)

Jacques Villeneuve pictured (Image: Getty)
Jacques Villeneuve pictured (Image: Getty)

Jacques Villeneuve was banned for a race towards the closing stages of the 1997 season after failing to slow for yellow flags.

The Canadian, along with five other drivers including championship rival Michael Schumacher, were given a suspended race ban - but Villeneuve's ban was enforced as he had already committed the same infringement on three previous occasions.

He was allowed to compete at the Japanese Grand Prix while an appeal was heard - and the result could have potentially defined the championship battle.

His two points gained from the race were eventually wiped from the records after the FIA rejected the appeal, but Villeneuve still won the 1997 Drivers' Championship.

Michael Schumacher (1994)

Villeneuve became the second driver to win a world championship in the same season they received a race ban, after Michael Schumacher.

The Benetton driver missed two races in 1994 after an incident at the British Grand Prix.

The German overtook Damon Hill on the formation lap after complaining that his rival was driving too slowly, incurring a five-second penalty.

Benetton instructed Schumacher not to serve it while they held discussions with the FIA, but the race director showed him a black flag for not coming into the pits.

The German instead simply served the five-second penalty on instruction from his team - but was then disqualified and banned for two races for failing to follow FIA instructions.

Mika Hakkinen (1994)

Mika Hakkinen was the second driver to receive a race ban in 1994 after he crashed his McLaren into David Coulthard's Williams at the German Grand Prix.

The Finn had already received the one-race ban, suspended for three races, after an incident involving Jordan's Ruben Barrichello but it was brought forward after the Coulthard crash.

Eddie Irvine (1994)

Eddie Irvine completed the trio of future 1999 world championship contenders to be banned in the same season.

The Northern Irishman was deemed to be at fault for a four-car collision at the Brazilian Grand Prix that included Martin Brundle and Jos Verstappen.

Irvine was banned for one race before appealing the verdict, but the FIA heard the appeal and then increased his ban to three races.

Nigel Mansell (1989)

Nigel Mansell pictured (Image: Getty)
Nigel Mansell pictured (Image: Getty)

Nigel Mansell incurred a race ban after a calamitous few laps at the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix.

The 1992 champion crashed into Ayrton Senna at turn one, taking both cars out of the race.

But Mansell was also punished for reversing back into his pit box after overshooting it laps earlier, an incident for which he received a black flag that he was ultimately unable to take during the race. A one-race ban followed.

Riccardo Patrese (1978)

Riccardo Patrese's one-race ban from the United States Grand Prix was ultimately tinged with a huge amount of sadness.

The Italian had been blamed for a 10-car pile-up on the opening lap of the previous Italian Grand Prix, with Niki Lauda and Mario Andretti leading calls for him to be banned for the next race.

Those drivers refused to race themselves if Patrese participated, and he was subsequently barred from entering the Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.

Andretti's Lotus team-mate Ronnie Peterson, who was involved in the crash, suffered burns and severe injuries to his legs, and though the injuries were not life-threatening at the time, he later died in hospital after developing an embolism.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Formula 1, Michael Schumacher

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Recommended reads

“I don’t fight for a country” – Michael 'Venom' Page reveals why he won’t walk out with a flag at UFC LondonGeoff Stellfox/Getty ImagesLerone Murphy details ‘bucket list’ fight ahead of UFC LondonChris Unger/Zuffa LLC“All we want is people who really want to die for the shirt” – Danny Dyer talks West Ham, football agents and the toughest firms in the gameOne Last DealWhy Donald Trump lacks power on Iran's participation at World Cup as 'likely decision date' revealedGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • Getty
    10 hours ago

    F1 insider says Charles Leclerc said something a ‘top driver should never repeat'

    Charles Leclerc was locked in a dramatic battle with Lewis Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix.

    F1
  • Getty
    12 hours ago

    Aston Martin rejected by two major F1 names to replace Adrian Newey after disastrous start

    The F1 team has endured a torrid start to the 2026 campaign amid engine issues.

    F1
  • Getty
    12 hours ago

    George Russell could be replaced by Verstappen in 2027 as secret Antonelli clause revealed

    George Russell has enjoyed a promising start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.

    F1
  • Getty
    13 hours ago

    F1 'considering unprecedented' decision as insider issues update on Saudi and Bahrain races

    Formula 1 races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have been cancelled.

    F1
  • Eight of the weirdest F1 rules that were proposed but never introduced
  • Michael Schumacher’s Friend Reveals New Details On Rules To Visit F1 Legend
  • Three F1 drivers sent to stewards on first day of 2026 season after breaching rules
  • F1 legend Michael Schumacher left 'god of his sport' starstruck during 2004 Silverstone visit