DO PENALTY POINTS STILL SERVE ANY PURPOSE IN F1?

F1 stewards have drastically altered their approach to penalty points in 2026, issuing zero points on superlicences across the opening races. This marks a sharp departure from previous seasons, where similar incidents often accumulated points. Drivers lobbied the FIA in the offseason for a softer system, arguing points should only be applied for deliberate or reckless actions, not minor infractions. The FIA's revised guidelines now explicitly state that listed penalty point figures are maximums, allowing stewards discretion to issue anywhere from zero.

This philosophical shift meant incidents like Isack Hadjar receiving a 10-second stop-and-go for failing to slow under double yellows, or Oscar Piastri causing a collision, resulted in sporting penalties but no points. While intended to prevent suspensions for minor errors, the system now faces scrutiny. If even severe infractions don't trigger penalty points, their deterrent value is gone. The FIA needs to clarify the threshold, or drivers may push boundaries believing only time penalties await.