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MONZA, Italy — Kevin Magnussen has received a Formula One race ban following a collision during the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Danish driver accumulated the maximum amount of penalty points (12) after causing a collision with Pierre Gasly during the race, an incident where he received a 10-second penalty and two penalty points. It comes after a series of penalties that began in Saudi Arabia, where he incurred three penalty points and a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Williams’ Alex Albon.
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Magnussen’s tactics have helped Haas — and put him in danger of a race ban
“Unfortunately, Magnussen collected two penalty points for the collision with Gasly,” Haas confirmed in a statement, “meaning he will now serve a one-race suspension in Azerbaijan, having accumulated a total of 12 maximum penalty points in a 12-month period – resulting in the automatic ban.”
The race stewards confirmed that Magnussen’s super license would be suspended “for the next competition,” meaning Magnussen will not race in any session at the Azerbaijan GP on Sept. 15.
Penalty points weren’t introduced until 2014, and they stay on a driver’s license for 12 months, even if a season is over.
“Post-race, Kevin received two penalty points, which means a one-race ban, and (he) won’t be racing in Baku,” Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said after the race.
With race bans, the driver is sidelined. Haas can fill his car with another driver, such as reserve driver Ollie Bearman, who joins the team in 2025. It is worth noting that Bearman is competing in Formula Two that weekend as well and would likely need to sit it out if called up, similar to when the Briton replaced Carlos Sainz in Jeddah.
After the race, Magnussen expressed his frustration with the stewards’ decision.
“I don’t understand it at all,” Magnussen said. “Flat out, just completely confused. We raced hard into Turn 4, we had slight contact, and we both missed the corner. We came back on track again, no damage to either car, no consequence in the race for either of us, and I get a 10-second penalty.
“Then lap one, Ricciardo and Nico, Ricciardo put Nico on the grass at 300 km/h, completely destroyed Nico’s race, massive consquence and damage to Nico’s car, and (Hülkenberg) gets a five-second penalty. Where is the logic? I just don’t get it.”
The last Formula One driver to receive a race ban was Romain Grosjean in 2012 after causing a multi-car crash at the start of the Belgian GP that year. e squeezed Lewis Hamilton towards the wall and onto the grass before they made contact, triggering a chain reaction with numerous other drivers.
GO DEEPER
Magnussen’s tactics have helped Haas — and put him in danger of a race ban
Top photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images
