FIA Testing Penalty Points System in F1

The FIA and Formula 1 have begun discussing changes to the sporting regulations for next season that could include a new testing schedule and a proposed driver penalty points system. For the new rules to be passed, there would need to be unanimous consent among the F1 teams. 

The idea for the penalty points comes from race director Charlie Whiting and the Sporting Working Group think-tank. The system will be put in place in a completely non-binding way during this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix to show teams how the system would work. 

"It's a complex question and we need to get the balance right because banning a driver is a serious issue. We need to make sure a driver genuinely deserves any ban.

"We will be monitoring offences and running a system in the background to see how it would all work if put into practice. We need to do that for a while," said Whiting. 

The system would replace the fine system currently used to punish drivers in F1. For instance, a driver caught speeding in the pit lane would no longer have to pay a fine, but he would receive penalty points on his racing license. If a driver accrued enough penalty points, he would no longer be allowed to race in F1. 

The plan has not yet decided on the number of points that would invoke a suspension or how long these points would last on the driver's license. 

Source: Autosport