Formula 1’s stewards have had a busy time over the last six rounds, especially in Mexico City and Austin. However they arguably took too much on at Zandvoort, where they ended up reversing one of their penalty decisions.
Should they have reconsidered any of the other calls they made over the last half-dozen rounds? Give your views on all the most recent incidents below and look back on our users’ views on other penalties from earlier in the season here:
- Which penalty calls did F1’s stewards get right – and wrong – in 2025? Part one
- Which penalty calls did F1’s stewards get right – and wrong – in 2025? Part two
- Which penalty calls did F1’s stewards get right – and wrong – in 2025? Part three
- 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ penalties and investigations index
Dutch Grand Prix
Sainz-Lawson collision
It’s rare for a penalty to be rescinded in Formula 1, but it has happened already this year following Carlos Sainz Jnr’s tangle with Liam Lawson at Zandvoort. The stewards gave Sainz a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points on his licence, then withdrew them. The time penalty could not be removed but the penalty points were.
Sainz was trying to pass Lawson on the outside of Tarzan when the pair touched. Racing Bulls originally accused the Williams driver of “crashing into” their car but after the penalty was withdrawn Lawson accepted it had been a “racing incident”.
As our poll referred to the stewards’ original decision it has been closed to avoid confusion.
Sainz’s penalty for causing a collision with Lawson was:
- No opinion (3%)
- Far too lenient (0%)
- Slightly too lenient (0%)
- Correct (13%)
- Slightly too harsh (17%)
- Far too harsh (67%)
Total Voters: 128
Antonelli-Leclerc collision
Andrea Kimi Antonelli ended Charles Leclerc’s race with a lunge at the Hugenholzbocht. The stewards ruled he was “overly optimistic” and gave him a 10-second time penalty.
Antonelli’s penalty for causing a collision with Leclerc was:
- No opinion (0%)
- Far too lenient (15%)
- Slightly too lenient (13%)
- Correct (69%)
- Slightly too harsh (0%)
- Far too harsh (3%)
Total Voters: 39
Russell-Leclerc incident
Did Leclerc pass George Russell off the track at Zandvoort? The Ferrari driver was originally noted for exceeding track limits when he overtook the Mercedes driver at turn 12. However when the stewards spoke to the pair they decided “the available evidence was inconclusive as to whether car 16 left the track” and issued no penalty.
How should the stewards have ruled on the Russell-Leclerc incident?
Italian Grand Prix
Ocon-Stroll incident
The stewards ruled Esteban Ocon forced Lance Stroll off on the approach to the Roggia chicane early in the race. Ocon claimed on his radio the incident occured because the track became narrower at that point.
Ocon’s penalty for forcing Stroll off was…
- No opinion (7%)
- Far too lenient (2%)
- Slightly too lenient (2%)
- Correct (58%)
- Slightly too harsh (16%)
- Far too harsh (14%)
Total Voters: 43
Bearman-Sainz incident
Sainz was again involved in contact while trying to pass a rival at Monza. This time he tangled with Oliver Bearman and the stewards decided the Haas driver was to blame, issuing a 10-second time penalty.
Bearman’s penalty for his incident with Sainz was…
- No opinion (5%)
- Far too lenient (2%)
- Slightly too lenient (3%)
- Correct (16%)
- Slightly too harsh (19%)
- Far too harsh (55%)
Total Voters: 58
Antonelli-Albon incident
Antonelli got himself in trouble for the second race in a row when he squeezed Alexander Albon at the Curva Grande. He received a five-second time penalty this time, and Albon managed to pass the Mercedes.
Antonelli’s penalty for his incident with Albon was…
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Albon-Colapinto incident
In Azerbaijan Albon was judged the aggressor, copping a 10-second time penalty for knocking Franco Colapinto wide at turn five. “I’ll hold my hand up,” the Williams driver said afterwards, accepting the blame.
Albon’s penalty for his collision with Colapinto was:
- No opinion (0%)
- Far too lenient (0%)
- Slightly too lenient (4%)
- Correct (82%)
- Slightly too harsh (14%)
- Far too harsh (0%)
Total Voters: 28
United States Grand Prix – sprint race
First-lap collision
Following an uneventful race in Singapore the sprint race at Austin began with a bang. Both McLaren drivers were eliminated at the first corner along with Fernando Alonso in a pile-up which also left Nico Hulkenberg with damage.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown initially blamed the Sauber driver but later retracted his comments. The stewards decided no one was to blame.
Should any driver have been penalised for the first-lap collision in the Austin sprint race?
Stroll-Ocon collision
Later in the sprint race Stroll made an ambitious attempt to pass Ocon at turn one but succeeded only in taking the Haas driver out. Stroll apologised after he was given a five-place grid drop for the grand prix.
Lance Stroll’s penalty for his collision with Esteban Ocon is:
- No opinion (0%)
- Far too lenient (25%)
- Slightly too lenient (19%)
- Correct (56%)
- Slightly too harsh (0%)
- Far too harsh (0%)
Total Voters: 32
Bearman-Antonelli incident
Bearman was relieved not to collect more penalty points for going off the track at turn 15 while fighting Antonelli, though he did receive a 10-second time penalty which dropped him far out of the points positions.
Bearman’s penalty for leaving the track was:
- No opinion (3%)
- Far too lenient (0%)
- Slightly too lenient (3%)
- Correct (49%)
- Slightly too harsh (22%)
- Far too harsh (24%)
Total Voters: 37
United States Grand Prix
Sainz-Antonelli collision
There was more drama for Antonelli at the same corner in the grand prix. Sainz made a bid to pass him on the inside but knocked the Mercedes into a spin. Antonelli continued but Sainz retired and received a five-place grid penalty for the next race.
Sainz’s penalty for his collision with Antonelli was:
Bearman-Tsunoda incident
There was more frustration for Bearman in the grand prix as he accused Yuki Tsunoda of dangerous driving by changing his line in a braking zone when he came under attack at turn 15. Despite Haas’s lobbying, the stewards did not even investigate the incident.
Should Bearman or Tsunoda have faced a penalty for their incident at turn 15?
- No opinion (2%)
- Strong penalty for Tsunoda (32%)
- Light penalty for Tsunoda (36%)
- No penalty for either driver (20%)
- Light penalty for Bearman (5%)
- Strong penalty for Bearman (5%)
Total Voters: 44
Mexican Grand Prix
First-lap corner cutting
No fewer than five drivers – one-quarter of the field – cut the second corner on the first lap of the Mexican Grand Prix, prompting accusations from many of their rivals that they had gained positions. The stewards took no action. Russell and Alonso were especially aggrieved, the latter ranting furiously about race control on his radio.
Should any drivers have been penalised for cutting turn two at the start?
- No driver should have been penalised (6%)
- Lawson should have been penalised (12%)
- Sainz should have been penalised (13%)
- Antonelli should have been penalised (13%)
- Verstappen should have been penalised (29%)
- Leclerc should have been penalised (27%)
Total Voters: 119
Hamilton-Verstappen collision at turn one
Lewis Hamilton was astonished to receive a penalty after Max Verstappen collided with him while passing the Ferrari at turn one. Verstappen also cut across the inside of turn three during the exchange between the pair.
Should the stewards have issued a penalty for the contact between Verstappen and Hamilton at turn one?
Hamilton-Verstappen incident at turn four
The pair continued their fight at turn four where both drivers left the track. Hamilton went further wide than Verstappen and rejoined ahead of him, earning a 10-second time penalty.
Hamilton’s penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at turn four was:
- No opinion (0%)
- Far too lenient (0%)
- Slightly too lenient (1%)
- Correct (24%)
- Slightly too harsh (39%)
- Far too harsh (36%)
Total Voters: 76
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Debates and polls
- Poll: Do you agree with Vowles’ call for more two-day grand prix weekends?
- Poll: Should Bottas’s penalty for first race of 2026 be cancelled?
- ‘Two roosters’ or a ‘number one’ driver: What’s the best way to run an F1 team?
- Which penalty calls did F1’s stewards get right – and wrong – in 2025? Part three
- Poll: Has the time come for F1 to introduce reverse grids to its sprint races?