La Formula 1 responds to a very rigid and complex system of rules, sometimes even ambiguous. It happens very often, during a race, to witness the penalization of a driver, usually for reasonable reasons, sometimes a little less so. After the recent disasters of Carlos Sainz, fined 20 euros for being in the bathroom during the opening ceremony of the Japanese GP. Charles Leclerc, disqualified in China, as his car was found to be 1 kg underweight. O Niko Hülkenberg , disqualified in Bahrain due to excessive skid wear… but late. We asked ourselves, what are the most absurd penalties in Formula 1.
Penalties of the past: F1 without rules
In the past, Formula 1 was certainly less rigid than it is today. Despite this, there were still some infringements that did not go unnoticed. Such as that of Nigel Mansell , GP of Portugal 1989, who brought home not only a disqualification, but also a very heavy fine. The latter, in fact, during a pit stop in the race, went past the stopping point and reversed, this violation of the regulation cost him the black flag. Mansell returned to the track, ignoring the flag. His re-entry caused the accident with Ayrton Senna which cost him the disqualification and a fine of 50.000 dollars.
But Mansell is not the only one. A few years later we also find the penalty of Eddie Irvine, Brazilian GP 1994, guilty of causing a multiple crash in the race, subsequently disqualified. Following the appeal of the Jordan team, this ban was increased to three races. Also Keke Rosberg, Brazilian GP 1983, received a disqualification at the end of the race, as the mechanics pushed his car into the pits to restart it. This was a violation of the rules.
Penalties that made Formula 1 history
Among the most shocking disqualifications we find that of Hans Heyer, German GP 1977, brought home one of the most controversial GPs in history. In fact, Heyer, did not qualify to participate in the GP in question, despite this he started anyway, illegally. Heyer was disqualified, going down in history as the only F1 driver to be not qualified, retired and disqualified, in the space of a single race. In the end the famous Collective disqualification, 1980 Spanish GP, thirteen drivers were disqualified for not attending the pre-race briefing. The race was ultimately declared invalid for the championship.
Penalties in Formula 1 today: The FIA Domination
Although FIA regulations have become much more stringent today, most drivers have not refrained from committing infringements. Like that of Sebastian Vettel, Canadian GP 2019 ; The German received a 5-second penalty for rejoining the track in a dangerous manner and obstructing Hamilton. Although Vettel crossed the finish line first, this penalty cost him the victory. The same Lewis Hamilton, Spanish GP 2012, excluded from qualifying, despite having earned pole position, for not leaving enough fuel for post-session checks.
Taking a step back we find Michael Schumacher, Monaco GP 2006, who positioned his car at the Rascasse curve during qualifying, to hinder his opponents. He started from the back of the grid. To stay on the subject of world champions, Max Verstappen, Mexican GP 2019, ignored the yellow flags in qualifying following a crash, dropped back three places and lost pole position.
There have also been penalties for entire teams, such as that of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, Hungarian GP 2020, at the time both Haas drivers received instructions by radio during the formation lap. This rule violation cost both drivers 10-second penalties.
And among the most discussed penalties in terms of injustice, we certainly find that of Max Verstappen, Qatar GP 2024, The Dutchman lost just one position for driving too slowly on the cool-down lap.
Formula 1 can sometimes be a ruthless sport, and in some ways unfair. Despite this, penalties in F1 today represent an important tool to ensure fairness, but above all safety. But in a sport where every thousandth counts, even the smallest of penalties can overturn the results of a race.
