Pierre Gasly will have to stay out of trouble until May - well into next season - after Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix left the AlphaTauri driver just two penalty points away from a Formula One race ban.
The Frenchman, who is joining Renault-owned Alpine at the end of the year as replacement for Fernando Alonso, now has 10 points on his licence with 12 in a 12-month period triggering an automatic suspension.
He was given a five-second penalty and a point on his licence on Sunday for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, forcing Aston Martin's Lance Stroll off as well, without giving back the place.
Gasly, who finished 11th, said he had not been told to give back the place and would have a discussion about what to do differently to avoid future points. "I don't feel like I've been that dangerous over the last 12 months, and it would be a shame to get a race ban for slowing down a bit too much behind the safety car and a couple of track limits (breaches) this year," he told reporters.