After seven races, F1 drivers have earned only one penalty point – Franco Colapinto’s for a yellow‑flag breach in Barcelona. No points have been handed out for on‑track battles, a direct result of the new FIA guidelines that give stewards far more discretion on point allocation. The rule change reflects a long‑standing driver demand to stop penalising hard racing.

Under the revised system stewards may award zero to three points for collisions, rather than an automatic three. Esteban Ocon’s clash with Colapinto in China earned a ten‑second time penalty but no points, illustrating the flexibility. Points for forcing a driver off track or ignoring blue flags are now only applied when the move is deemed reckless, preserving the 12‑point ban threshold.

Drivers such as Oliver Bearman, who tops the current list with eight points, welcomed the changes, saying the old system discouraged overtaking. GPDA chief Carlos Sainz noted that Rui Marques has fostered the most collaborative dialogue with teams since Charlie Whiting. The only automatic ban this season still applied to Kevin Magnussen after he exceeded the limit in São Paulo.