Driver Edges Closer to Race Ban After Miami Grand Prix

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen has inched perilously close to a mandatory race suspension after racking up multiple penalties during the Miami Grand Prix. His total now stands at 10 penalty points, just two shy of the FIA-imposed limit that triggers a race ban.

The Haas driver, battling fiercely in both the sprint and main races, found himself on the wrong side of the FIA’s stringent regulations, pushing him to a precarious position with a total of 10 penalty points accumulated on his Super Licence.

What penalties did Kevin Magnussen collect at the Miami GP?

The troubles began during the sprint race, where Magnussen and seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton clashed twice. An aggressive move saw Magnussen go off-track at a chicane while jostling for the eighth position. The stewards handed him a 10-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track.

However, the conflicts did not end there. A subsequent tussle with Hamilton on lap 14 led to another penalty when Magnussen was deemed to have pushed the Mercedes driver off the track. This aggressive defense not only cost him another 10-second penalty but also escalated his tally towards the dreaded 12-point threshold for a race suspension.

The main race day brought no respite for Magnussen. An incident involving American driver Logan Sargeant resulted in yet another clash, followed by a 10-second penalty. But perhaps the most significant misstep occurred in the pit lane. In what was a critical error under pressure, Magnussen and his team was penalized for incorrectly serving a penalty during a pit stop, a move that involved entering the pits without changing tires, resulting in a hefty 20-second addition.

What happens when an F1 driver gets the maximum penalty points?

The FIA’s penalty points system serves as a deterrent against unsafe or unsporting behavior, aiming to maintain high standards of racing and safety. Accumulating 12 points over a 12-month period automatically triggers a one-race suspension, a severe consequence meant to encourage adherence to racing protocols and integrity.

As the Formula 1 circus moves on to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix set for May 17-19, all eyes will undoubtedly remain on Magnussen. It is widely considered that if the Danish driver is handed a race ban, it will be Ferrari and Haas reserve driver Ollie Bearman who will step into his shoes. This follows the young British driver’s debut earlier this year when he stepped in for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia when the Ferrari driver had appendicitis.