Ollie Bearman finds himself teetering on the edge of a Formula 1 race ban, with just two penalty points standing between him and a potentially career-altering suspension. The young driver’s troubles stem from a controversial incident during the recent Italian Grand Prix, where stewards ruled that he was responsible for a collision with Carlos Sainz at the notorious dela Roggia chicane. In a moment that could define his season, Bearman attempted a daring move on the inside of Sainz’s Williams, leading to a violent spin that left both cars damaged and their hopes of scoring points shattered.
The stewards, in their judgment, determined that Sainz had established his position ahead of Bearman at the apex, thus earning the right to the racing line. They stated, “[Bearman] defended his position on the inside instead of giving up the position and caused the collision.” As a result, Bearman was slapped with a 10-second time penalty, which, while not altering his final standing of 12th place, added critical penalty points to his record.
Now sitting at an alarming total of 10 penalty points, Bearman is the closest driver to incurring a race ban, surpassing even the likes of Max Verstappen, who had previously been one point away from a similar fate earlier in the season. The stakes are incredibly high: if Bearman accumulates 12 points, he will automatically be sidelined for the next race, a fate that Haas driver Kevin Magnussen faced last year after a penalty at Monza.
The clock is ticking for Bearman, with four races remaining before the penalty points reset in November. Should he find himself in another incident like the one at Monza, he could easily find himself banned from the track. This precarious situation adds an immense amount of pressure on the young driver and his team as they navigate the final stretch of the season.
Bearman’s penalties are not a new occurrence; he has faced scrutiny for his actions on the track before. Earlier this year, he received four penalty points for crashing during a red flag situation at the British Grand Prix. He had also picked up two points in Monaco for overtaking another car while the red flags were out. His first taste of penalty points came during a stand-in appearance in Brazil last year, where a collision with Franco Colapinto’s Williams earned him two additional points. These points will not expire until November 3, further complicating his situation.
As Bearman continues to navigate the complexities of Formula 1 racing, the pressure mounts. The looming threat of a race ban hangs over him like a dark cloud, making each upcoming race a critical test not just of skill, but of judgment. The world will be watching as he tries to balance aggression with caution, all while aiming for the success that has eluded him thus far. The next few races could very well determine not just his season, but the trajectory of his career in the high-stakes world of Formula 1.
