To get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, drivers must be in possession of a so-called super license. In principle, earning such a license seems quite simple: You have to drive 40 points together in racing classes recognized by the FIA. In reality, however, it is quite a complex story.
The FIA Super License – super license in this article – was first introduced in the early 1990s. It is a kind of compulsory driver’s license that drivers must have if they want to participate in the Formula 1 World Championship. From its origins, this license was intended to ensure that drivers entering the premier class had experience with Formula 1 cars or themselves. had proven in other single seaters. However, in recent years, the super license has often been the subject of discussion, due to a change that was implemented in 2015. Since that year, drivers must have accumulated 40 ‘points’ in FIA-recognized racing classes within a three-year period to qualify for a super license. But more on that later.
Super License Requirements
The Max Verstappen rule
In addition to these forty points, there are a number of conditions that a driver must meet before he or she is eligible. For example, a driver must be at least 18 years old at the time of the first Grand Prix weekend in order to participate. This rule was created in 2015 and is often referred to as ‘the Max Verstappen rule’. The Dutchman made his debut with the Toro Rosso team at the age of 17, and despite his immediate performance, not everyone was charmed by the fact that there was a teenager in the paddock. To prevent drivers from being drawn into the sport at too young an age, a minimum age was set some time after his debut.
Grade A License and Driver’s License
Furthermore, a driver must be in possession of an International Grade A Competition Licence. This too is earned by fulfilling a series of conditions, especially in the lower national racing classes. Usually, however, a driver has owned these for a long time before he or she comes close to a super license. Another fairly new rule is that a driver must have a valid driver’s license in his home country. Verstappen, for example, already drove around in Formula 1, when he was not yet allowed to drive on public roads in the Netherlands. That too has since changed.
Theory exam and the necessary experience
Drivers must also successfully pass a theory test. This does not ask whether you have to wear a seat belt when you drive along a canal, but the knowledge is tested about the technical and sporting regulations of Formula 1. The royal class has a pretty thick law book, so some knowledge of the facts is required. In addition, a driver must have competed in a single seater championship for at least two years, and must have completed at least eighty percent of the season per year. A driver must also have driven 300 kilometers in a recent Formula 1 car. This is often done on the basis of free training sessions or test days.
Forty points
And finally the most discussed requirement: the forty points. To qualify for a super license, a driver must have earned 40 super license points in the past three years. These can be earned by performing in racing classes recognized by the FIA, or by completing free practice sessions in Formula 1. For the latter, however, a maximum of 3 points per season applies, so the majority must be driven together in other competitions. The most popular classes for this are Formula 2 and Formula 3, but this has been up for debate lately. For example, in Formula 2, 30 points are awarded to the number four in the championship, and only ten to the number four in IndyCar. Colton Herta, for example, seems to be fishing behind the net.
Requirements at a glance
– Minimum age of 18 years
– Holds an International Grade A Competition License
– In possession of a valid driver’s license for the home country
– Successfully passed the theory exam
– Two years of experience in single seaters (driving at least 80 percent per season)
– Completed 300 kilometers in a recent Formula 1 car
– 40 super license points accumulated in the last three years
Super License Points to be earned per race class
As mentioned briefly above, the points for a super license can be earned in different racing classes. However, it differs enormously per class how many points are awarded. The FIA looks at things like the number of participants and the level of the class, although opinions are divided on whether this is still completely up-to-date today. Check out the full list of points to earn below.
Super license for free practice only
In 2019, the FIA introduced a super license that allows drivers to only complete free practice sessions in Formula 1. This at the request of the teams in order to allow junior and reserve drivers to gain experience. This license is subject to the same requirements, except that a driver must have accumulated only 25 points in the past three years, or have completed at least six races in Formula 2.
Penalties
A super license also immediately serves as a kind of criminal record for the drivers. If a driver commits a violation on the track, for example by exceeding the track limits too often or making contact with another driver, the race director can add penalty points to his or her super license. The amount depends on the offense, often between one and three. If a driver incurs 12 penalty points within twelve months, there will be a suspension for the next race. Twelve months after accruing a penalty point, it expires again. So far, no driver has actually been banned, although Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean were once very close.
How much does a super license cost?
Applying for a super license is anything but cheap, and the cost has gone up several times in recent years. Although the exact amount is not known, it is estimated that applying for a super license is between ten and twenty thousand euros. In addition, a super license is only valid for twelve months, so this amount must be transferred every year.
But that’s not all. A driver has to pay extra based on his performance in the previous season. An amount must be debited for each World Cup point scored. In 2012, this was almost thirteen hundred euros per point. That would mean that Verstappen paid more than five hundred thousand euros for his super license this year, where, for example, Mick Schumacher only had to pay the standard rate.
Can a driver lose his super license?
A super license is not forever. If a driver has not participated in an official Formula 1 event in three years, the license will be revoked. This means that a driver can spend one or two seasons on the sidelines, for example because he or she did not manage to get a seat. After that, though, it’s time to get back to work.
