Penalty System
Why do drivers get time penalties? What's a drive-through? How do grid drops work? Every F1 penalty explained simply.
How Stewarding Works
Who decides the penalties?
The FIA Race Stewards — a panel of 3-4 officials including a Driver Steward (a former racing driver) who reviews all incidents. They can act on their own initiative or respond to team complaints.
How do investigations work?
Stewards review onboard cameras, telemetry data, GPS traces, and team radio. Drivers and team representatives can be summoned to appear. A decision is usually reached within 30-60 minutes of the incident.
Can teams protest?
Yes — teams can lodge a formal protest within 30 minutes of race results being published. There's a fee (returned if the protest is upheld). Results can change hours or even days after a race.
Track limits — what are they?
Drivers must keep at least one wheel within the white lines defining the track. In 2026, the FIA uses automatic sensors at key corners. If a driver consistently violates track limits and gains lap time, they get a warning, then penalties.