Alpine F1 Junior Suspended After Racking Up 18 Penalty Points in One Week

Alpine F1 junior Nicola Lacorte has been handed a race ban after a difficult stretch in Formula 3, collecting 18 penalty points in just one week. He drives for DAMS in the F3 series and faces suspension for the upcoming Austrian round at the Red Bull Ring later this month.

The rules state that any driver who accrues 12 penalty points within 12 months will automatically miss the next event. Lacorte’s situation is even more severe, having surpassed that limit by a wide margin in only two rounds.

His troubles began in Monaco, where he was penalized for ignoring a black flag, earning 5 points. He also caused a collision in Monte Carlo and received 2 more points.

In Spain, the issues continued as Lacorte was ruled responsible for two separate incidents during the race, picking up another 4 penalty points. He was penalized twice more for speeding during the safety car, receiving 3 points each time.

A further point for another collision in Spain brought his total to 18, a number rarely seen over such a short period. Accumulating so many points is uncommon and puts Lacorte in a difficult spot.

On the other hand, the DAMS team is now searching for a replacement driver for the Red Bull Ring. Last season, Kevin Magnussen became the first Formula 1 driver to cross the 12-point mark, serving as a warning across the FIA ladder.

Currently, reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen sits just one point shy of an automatic ban himself. The penalty point system was set up to encourage safer driving and adherence to the rules.

Stewards can hand out penalty points for various violations, from ignoring flag signals to causing collisions or failing to respect the safety car. Despite these measures, incidents like Lacorte’s show how quickly things can unravel for young drivers trying to impress in the feeder series.

With this ban, Lacorte will miss out on valuable racing experience at the Red Bull Ring as the F3 season continues. The Italian driver, only 18 years old, now faces questions about his approach as he works to rebuild his campaign after this setback.

Meanwhile, his team must quickly decide who will take over the car for the Austrian round as the championship battle carries on. Elsewhere in motorsport, discussions continue around key Formula 1 stories, including scrutiny of Max Verstappen and debate over recent team decisions.

Driver and team standings remain tight, with Oscar Piastri and McLaren currently leading, followed closely by Lando Norris. The calendar moves next to Canada, Austria, and then Silverstone, promising more action through the summer.

For Lacorte, the focus now shifts to regrouping and learning from a week that may shape the rest of his racing season.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.