Penalty points can be accumulated a number of ways in Formula One, usually related to causing an accident on track or breaking some sort of regulation, like ignoring yellow flags.
Should a driver accumulate twelve penalty points then they will be handed a race ban for a single Grand Prix, forcing them to watch on from the crowd as they serve their punishment.
Pierre Gasly has taken his points total to ten following an incident at the Mexican Grand Prix, where he locked up while attempting an overtake and forced Lance Stroll off the track.
Should Gasly pick up two more points he will miss a race, as previously mentioned, which has annoyed his new employers Alpine.
READ: Lewis Hamilton revolutionises his race week routine
The French team pulled out all the stops and negotiated hard with the Red Bull group to sign Gasly for 2023, so the last thing they would want to happen is for their new star signing to get suspended because of things he did while racing for a different team.
Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer has spoken out about Gasly’s driving, suggesting it is a blend of bad luck and careless driving.
“We just have to be a little bit more careful,” he said when asked about a potential race ban for the Frenchman.
“I saw what happened [in Mexico] and at this point, I’m not biased, it looked 50-50 to me but away. Just have to be more careful.”
Gasly has asked to be given the opportunity to speak to the FIA about his points total, believing that he has been hard done by with some of the decisions made against him.
He picked up points for dropping over ten car lengths behind the car ahead during a safety car, however it seems clear from the footage that many other drivers did the exact same without being punished, much to Gasly’s annoyance.
Szafnauer has joked about Gasly ‘taking one for the team’ and picking up two penalty points in Brazil to ensure he is suspended for AlphaTauri in Abu Dhabi, therefore arriving to Alpine with a clean slate.
READ: ‘That is the big question’: Haas boss reveals how they will decide Mick Schumacher’s future
“A tactical foul,” he joked.
“Or maybe he could take a class and then the points drop off.”
Clearly one of the most talented drivers on the grid on his day, Gasly just needs to iron out the rough parts of his driving that lead to these penalty points, and Alpine will have a potential regular podium scorer in their ranks.