F1
How many penalty points does each F1 driver have in 2025?
Here are the total penalty points each 2025 Formula 1 driver has accumulated on their FIA superlicence
Who would replace Oliver Bearman if he gets an F1 race ban?
F1
With Oliver Bearman facing the threat of an F1 race ban for the next four grands prix, Haas could soon be forced to find a stand-in. We look at the drivers who could replace him
Bearman is just two points away from a ban
Grand Prix Photo
In 2024, Oliver Bearman became the first man to replace a Formula 1 driver banned from a race after reaching 12 penalty points on his superlicence.
Almost exactly a year later, Bearman is facing the ironic situation of being the man on the verge of a ban himself, meaning that Haas is likely to be sizing up potential stand-ins.
If Bearman did receive a race ban, one driver in line to replace him is the team’s reserve, Ryo Hirakawa. But without any F1 race experience, Haas might be tempted to look to its engine supplier, Ferrari, which has the service of veterans Zhou Guanyu and Antonio Giovinazzi. We examine each driver’s case further down the page.
Bearman’s first race outing with Haas came when he replaced Kevin Magnussen in the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the Dane had been handed a race ban as a result of reaching 12 penalty points at Monza.
A year on — and again at Monza — Bearman moved to within two penalty points of a race ban after being found at fault for a collision with Carlos Sainz during last week’s Italian Grand Prix.
Added to penalty points incurred earlier this year (see below for more details), it means the Haas driver will have to avoid any incidents in the next four grands prix, the first two of his penalty points not expiring until 2 November.
Speaking ahead of the Azerbaian Grand Prix, Bearman called the Monza penalty “harsh”.
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“It’s a shame to be at this point, but yeah, just have to have a few clean races for the next few,” he said.
“We have a meeting towards end of the year with all the drivers and the stewards and I think it’s annoying to be governed by these guidelines which I feel are quite vague in some areas and quite specific in others and with my incident in Monza, I felt like I was pretty hard done by.
“The guidelines state that I don’t deserve any space on the inside in that specific scenario which in my view is a bit harsh.
“Of course I’m biased towards myself but I think a lot of people will agree and say that that was quite a harsh scenario.”
Which driver would replace Oliver Bearman if he gets an F1 race ban?
Ryo Hirakawa
Hirakawa has had three FP1 outings in 2025
Grand Prix Photo
Hirakawa should, in theory, be the leading candidate to replace Bearman at Haas should a race ban occur.
Hirakawa was officially announced as Haas’s reserve driver prior to the 2025 season, following a productive post-season test with the team in Abu Dhabi and several FP1 appearances for Haas, Alpine and McLaren.
Currently competing for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship, the Japanese brings extensive experience from Super Formula, Super GT, and endurance racing, including a 2022 Le Mans win and two Hypercar titles.
Hirakawa’s role is further solidified by Haas’s collaboration with Toyota, which allows for integration of drivers from the Japanese manufacturer’s development programme.
The 31-year-old drove in FP1 in Japan with Alpine, before moving to Haas for practice outings in Bahrain and Barcelona.
Zhou Guanyu
Zhou travels for races with Ferrari
Grand Prix Photo
Zhou stands as a plausible candidate to step in for Haas if Bearman receives a race ban, owing largely to his role as a Ferrari reserve driver and the historical arrangement allowing Ferrari to supply reserve talent to Haas in emergencies.
After a three-year F1 stint with Sauber (formerly Alfa Romeo), Zhou returned to Ferrari for 2025, sharing reserve duties with Antonio Giovinazzi and providing cover for full-time drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Zhou’s prior experience with Ferrari’s junior programme and his record of 68 F1 starts bolster his suitability, giving Haas a replacement with race experience.
The Chinese driver hasn’t taken part in any practice sessions this year, but he drove in rain tyre testing session at Fiorano, driving the current SF-25 car.
Antonio Giovinazzi
Giovinazzi has stayed competitive in the WEC
Ferrari
Like Zhou, Giovinazzi is considered one of the candidates to replace Bearman because of his connection with Ferrari.
Giovinazzi, a former F1 race driver with Alfa Romeo, has been Ferrari’s reserve driver since 2023 and continues in this role through 2025 while also competing full-time in the World Endurance Championship for the Maranello manufacturer.
His prior F1 experience – spanning three seasons and 47 race starts – combined with his experience and close ties to Ferrari, make him a credible and reliable option for Haas if a stand-in becomes necessary.
The Italian, however, hasn’t driven F1 machinery since the end of the 2021 season, but has kept his race sharpness thanks to his WEC outings, which include victory in the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours.
How Bearman got close to an F1 race ban
Bearman has accumulated 10 penalty points on his superlicence due to four separate incidents.
2024 Brazilian GP – 2 points
Bearman’s first penalty points came during a stand-in appearance at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he again replaced an ill Magnussen and collided with Franco Colapinto at Turn 9 on lap four in wet conditions.
Bearman’s first penalty points are from Brazil 2024
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2025 Monaco GP – 2 points
Bearman was penalised with two points for overtaking Sainz under red flag conditions in practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, after the stewards found no mitigating circumstances for his decision.
2025 British GP – 4 points
Bearman received four points for crashing under red flag conditions while entering the pitlane at speed during the British Grand Prix. He was also handed a 10-place grid drop.
2025 Italian GP – 2 points
The most recent two points were for causing a collision with Sainz at the Italian Grand Prix, where stewards deemed Bearman predominantly at fault for not giving enough racing room going into the Roggia chicane.
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