Drive-Through Penalty

A Drive-Through Penalty is a sanction in motorsport requiring a driver to drive through the pit lane at the mandated speed limit without stopping, then rejoin the race.

This penalty is typically issued for moderate rule violations such as causing collisions, exceeding track limits repeatedly, or speeding in the pit lane. When race officials issue a drive-through penalty, the driver must enter the pit lane within a specified number of laps, costing them valuable race time—usually 20-30 seconds in Formula 1.

For example, if a driver repeatedly cuts corners to gain an advantage, officials might display a black flag with the driver's number, signaling they must complete a drive-through penalty. This punishment is designed to penalize infractions without completely ruining a driver's race.