Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll has had one penalty point added to his F1 super licence for defending too aggressively against Carlos Sainz at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the FIA has confirmed.<\/p>\n
It comes after Red Bull\u2019s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas driver Oliver Bearman were penalised for the same offence of making one change of direction in defence.<\/p>\n
Lance Stroll given FIA penalty point for Carlos Sainz incident at Abu Dhabi GP<\/p>\n
Stroll ended a run of eight races without a point \u2013 stretching back to the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August \u2013 to claim a 10th-place finish at the F1 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n
With teammate Fernando Alonso coming home a fine sixth, Stroll\u2019s result marked Aston Martin\u2019s first two-car points finish since Zandvoort and only the team\u2019s fourth of the entire season.<\/p>\n
Stroll initially finished ninth on the road in Abu Dhabi, but a five-second penalty for making more than one direction change while defending against the Williams of Sainz, dropping one spot to 10th in the final classification.<\/p>\n
Analysis: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Abu Dhabi GP conclusions: Lando\u2019s big realisation, Max error punished, the McLaren way<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0The cunning McLaren strategy that cornered Red Bull and delivered Norris the title<\/a><\/p>\n The FIA has announced that Stroll has also been handed one penalty point, putting him on six for the current 12-month period.<\/p>\n The stewards\u2019 verdict read: \u201cThe Stewards reviewed video and in-car video evidence.<\/p>\n \u201cCar 18 made multiple moves in defending against Car 55 on the straight before turn 9. This is a breach of the regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n Under F1\u2019s current penalty points system, introduced in 2014, drivers face an automatic one-race ban if they accumulate 12 points inside a 12-month window.<\/p>\n Stroll\u2019s penalty has put him joint third on F1\u2019s disciplinary chart<\/a>, with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson also on six points currently.<\/p>\n More on Lance Stroll and Aston Martin from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Lance Stroll news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Aston Martin news<\/a><\/p>\n Tsunoda, the outgoing Red Bull driver, sits second on eight penalty points, with Bearman leading the way with 10 \u2013 putting the Haas youngster just two away from a ban.<\/p>\n Tsunoda was also handed a five-second penalty and a penalty point in Abu Dhabi for his aggressive defence against Lando Norris, the newly crowned world champion, on the back straight.<\/p>\n With Tsunoda demoted to a test-and-reserve role for F1 2026, however, the Japanese driver is unlikely to trigger a ban unless he makes an unexpected return to a race seat during next season.<\/p>\n Bearman, meanwhile, was also penalised five seconds and handed a penalty point for making more than one change of direction against Stroll on the fast straight approaching Turn 9.<\/p>\n