What penalties can F1 drivers get?
I · Intermediate · Penalties and cars · 6 of 6The stewards penalise a driver only if they are wholly or mainly to blame. In a race they can give a five- or ten-second penalty, served at a stop or added to the time, a drive-through or a ten-second stop-and-go. Late drive-throughs become 20 seconds added. Grid drops apply at the next start; five reprimands bring a ten-place drop.
How it works
- Who: the stewards.
- Blame: wholly or mainly.
- Time penalty: 5 or 10 seconds.
- Served: at the next stop.
- Drive-through: through the pit lane.
- Stop-and-go: ten seconds stopped.
- Late: time added instead.
- Reprimands: five means ten places.
The glossary has the stewards, the time penalty, the drive-through penalty, the stop-and-go penalty, the reprimand and the disqualification.
Tricky cases
A driver gets 5 seconds and never stops again. Result?
Five seconds added to the race time.
A drive-through in the last three laps. Result?
20 seconds added.
Can mechanics work during a time penalty?
No.
How many reprimands for a grid penalty?
Five, at least four for driving.
Why the rule exists
A range of penalties lets stewards match the punishment to the incident.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Time penalty | 5 or 10 s | L B1.9.5 |
| Late drive-through | 20 s | L B1.9.5c |
| Reprimands | Five | L B1.9.5f |
From the rule book
FIA, 2026 Formula 1 Regulations, Section B: Sporting (issue 7, 25 June 2026), articles B1.3 and B1.9. Checked 15 October 2026. Official documents: FIA 2026 F1 Regulations, Sections A and B.