The FIA revises its points system for the Super License

When Max Verstappen signed for Toro Rosso at only 17 years old, some feared that increasingly younger drivers would enter F1 without the necessary experience. To address this, the Federation implemented a new points system to obtain the coveted entry, but it sparked strong controversy as a championship like Formula Renault 3.5 was placed on the same level as GP3, despite being considered more of a rival to GP2. Similarly, the DTM was excluded, which irritated Mercedes, as they base their young driver development program on this championship.

The FIA has therefore revised its decision and approved during the World Council in Mexico that a new points system will finally be implemented. It still requires drivers to accumulate 40 points over three seasons. This total can be reached by winning one of the following championships: the future Formula 2, GP2, the WEC, but also F3 or IndyCar. However, Formula Renault 3.5 still does not open the doors to F1 as the title only grants 35 points, which means being in the top 10 of one of the main championships in at least one other season is necessary. As for DTM and WTCC, although they make their appearance, they only award a maximum of 15 points, which is half of GP3.

To promote its new electric car championship, Formula E, the FIA has also decided to award a Super License to the reigning champion, even if the championship itself is not part of the program. This means that Nelson Piquet Jr, whose history will remember his involvement in the Singapore Crashgate in 2008, could make his return to F1 as early as next season.

The Federation has also taken into account the increasing difficulty for drivers to secure a seat in F1, especially with the reduction in the number of teams. Therefore, this super license is now awarded for three seasons, giving drivers several opportunities to make their entry into F1.