Tomorrow will probably be 10 years to the day for the reason that FIA confirmed the small print of a brand new factors system to find out who needs to be allowed to race in Formulation 1.
The superlicence factors system initially awarded factors to drivers based mostly solely on their ending positions in numerous classes beneath F1. Now additional factors are awarded for collaborating in F1 follow classes, avoiding penalties and extra.
The edge requirement of 40 factors stays unchanged. Each aspiring F1 driver is aware of they have to rack up these 40 factors over three seasons in an effort to obtain their aim (the requirement to take action in consecutive seasons was briefly relaxed because of the Covid-19 pandemic).
F1’s superlicence system has doubtlessly prevented some drivers from racing in F1 once they might have finished. AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) needed to run IndyCar driver Colton Herta in 2023, however couldn’t as he didn’t have adequate superlicence factors, regardless of being a a number of race-winner in one of many few single seater classes the place automotive efficiency is near that seen in F1.
A decade since its introduction, is F1’s superlicence factors system performing a helpful operate for the sequence and for upcoming drivers?
The FIA F1 superlicence factors system in 2025
Factors are awarded for drivers’ ending positions in these championships as follows:
Sequence
1st
2nd
third
4th
fifth
sixth
seventh
eighth
ninth
tenth
Whole
FIA Formulation 2
40
40
40
30
20
10
8
6
4
3
201
FIA Formulation 3
30
25
20
15
12
9
7
5
3
2
128
FIA WEC (Hypercar)
30
24
20
16
12
10
8
6
4
2
132
Japanese Tremendous Formulation
30
25
20
15
12
9
7
5
3
2
128
IndyCar
40
30
20
10
8
6
4
3
2
1
124
FIA Formulation E
30
25
20
10
8
6
4
3
2
1
109
Formulation Regional European Championship
25
20
15
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
88
Japanese Tremendous GT500
20
16
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
76
IMSA Grand Touring Prototype
20
16
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
76
Formulation Regional Center East Championship
18
14
12
10
6
4
3
2
1
0
70
Formulation Regional Americas Championship
18
14
12
10
6
4
3
2
1
0
70
Formulation Regional Japanese Championship
18
14
12
10
6
4
3
2
1
0
70
Formulation Regional Oceania Championship
18
14
12
10
6
4
3
2
1
0
70
Formulation Regional Indian Championship
18
14
12
10
6
4
3
2
1
0
70
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
6
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
Worldwide Supercars Championship
15
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
55
NASCAR Cup
15
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
55
Indy Lights (now Indy Nxt)
15
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
55
Euroformula Open
15
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
55
Japanese Tremendous Formulation Lights
15
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
55
Nationwide FIA Formulation 4 Championships licensed by the FIA
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
0
40
Asian / ELMS / IMSA Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
30
FIA WEC (LMGT3)
12
10
7
5
3
2
1
0
0
0
40
F1 Academy
10
7
5
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
26
Indy Professional 2000
10
7
5
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
26
GB3 Championship
10
7
5
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
26
NASCAR Nationwide
10
7
5
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
26
GT3 Championships registered as Worldwide Sequence
6
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
Japanese Tremendous GT300
6
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
FIA Karting World Championships in senior class
4
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
FIA Karting Continental Championships in senior class
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
FIA Karting World Championships in junior class
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
FIA Karting Continental Championships in junior class
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
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Factors are solely awarded if championships meet numerous standards, together with solely visiting FIA-certified tracks and involving a minimal variety of drivers. Drivers can solely rely factors from two championships per 12 months and not more than 12 factors from karting sequence.
Three additional factors are awarded to the winner of the Formulation Regional World Cup. Drivers can accumulate as much as 10 factors by collaborating in Formulation 1 follow classes and acquire an extra two factors by protecting a ‘clear sheet’ in any sequence the place penalty factors are issued for driving infractions.
For
Formulation 1 is the highest stage of worldwide motor racing and drivers want to indicate they’re able to dealing with highly effective machines and following the foundations of racing. Junior championships are the easiest way to do that and it is smart to favour these whose guidelines and laws are closest to F1’s.
No system is ever going to be good, and though F1’s superlicence factors system is difficult, it largely does its job.
Towards
The superlicence factors system units the next bar for some drivers relying on what sequence they had been in a position to race in, which can have much less to do with their means than what they’ll afford. F1’s high junior sequence have develop into much more costly in recent times as all their races happen at grand prix weekends.
The factors allocations for some sequence present the system is meant to favour FIA over non-FIA sequence, placing drivers from some areas, notably the USA, at a drawback.
I say
The previous 5 years have revealed how cynical the superlicence factors system is. When an IndyCar driver equivalent to Colton Herta comes up brief, no exceptions are made. When a rich driver in an FIA-sanctioned sequence wants a licence, all of the sudden the system is extra malleable.
Any system which blocks a driver of Herta’s means whereas waving within the likes of Nikita Mazepin can’t be taken significantly.
New F1 drivers needs to be required to take assessments demonstrating they’ll drive the automobiles and perceive the racing guidelines. The pointless, over-complicated and bureaucratic superlicence factors system needs to be binned.
You say
After we requested our readers this query 5 years in the past, many didn’t approve of superlicence factors however a major minority felt the system had advantage. 5 years on, have these views modified considerably?
Do you agree F1 ought to preserve its superlicence factors system?
Strongly disagree (59%)
Barely disagree (20%)
Neither agree nor disagree (0%)
Barely agree (16%)
Strongly agree (5%)
Whole Voters: 56
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