Rule-breaking in F1 is judged by the Stewards: a panel appointed by the FIA for each event, including a former driver. They review incidents with video, data and the drivers’ radio, and they work from published guidelines so that similar offences get similar penalties.
Penalties during a race
| Penalty | What happens | Typical offence |
|---|---|---|
| 5 or 10 second time penalty | Served at the next pit stop, or added to race time | Gaining an advantage off track, causing a minor collision |
| Drive-through | Drive through the pit lane at the speed limit without stopping | More serious incidents, or ignoring an earlier instruction |
| 10 second stop-and-go | Stop in the pit box for 10 s; no work allowed | Serious offences |
| Disqualification | Removed from the results | Technical breaches, ignoring a black flag |
A penalty that cannot be served - because the driver has already retired - is often converted into a grid drop at the next race.
Grid penalties
Each driver may use a limited number of each power unit component per season. Fitting one more earns a grid penalty, and teams sometimes take several at once at a track where overtaking is easy, to limit the damage.
Penalty points
Alongside a penalty, stewards can add points to a driver’s Super Licence. They expire after 12 months. A driver who reaches 12 points is suspended for the next event, and 12 points are then taken off. It has only happened once since the system began.