F1 Rookie Bearman Nears Race Ban After Italian GP Penalties

At the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, Haas driver Ollie Bearman received a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points for a collision with Williams' Carlos Sainz, bringing his total to 10 penalty points within a 12-month period. This puts Bearman just two points shy of the 12-point threshold that triggers an automatic one-race ban, a fate only experienced once before by Kevin Magnussen in 2024. The incident occurred as Sainz attempted an overtake at the Roggia chicane, where Bearman defended aggressively and caused contact, prompting stewards to rule Bearman predominantly at fault. Bearman's previous penalty points include collisions and infractions over the past year, with none set to expire until November, leaving him under pressure to avoid further penalties in the next four races. Other drivers, including Kimi Antonelli and Esteban Ocon, also received penalty points at Monza for separate incidents, highlighting an eventful and contentious race. Bearman's potential suspension could see Haas call upon reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa to replace him if the ban is enforced.