The FIA Super Licence is a drivers qualification allowing the licence-holder to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
Contents
Requirements
Super Licence
To qualify for an FIA Racing Super Licence an applicant must meet the requirements of the FIA's International Sporting Code, Appendix L.[1] Which states:
- A minimum age of 18
- An existing holder of an International Grade A competition licence
- A holder of a full and valid road car driving licence for the country listed as the drivers nationality which has not been suspended, withdrawn, revoked, or in any other way prevents the holder from driving a motor car on public roads.
- Passing of an FIA theory test on knowledge of the F1 sporting codes and regulations.
- Completed at least 80% of each of two full seasons of any of the single-seater Championships reported in Supplement 1 of the regulations
- Accumulated at least 40 points over the previous three seasons in any combination of the single-seater Championships reported in Supplement 1 of the regulations
As of 2019, the Supplement 1 Super Licence points, which also qualify for the 80% rule, are awarded according to the following table:
Series | Championship position | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | |
FIA Formula 2 Championship | 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
GP2 Series (folded 2016, expires post-2019) | 40 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
IndyCar Series1 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
FIA Formula 3 Championship | 30 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
FIA Formula E Championship | ||||||||||
European Formula 3 Championship (folded 2018, expires post-2021) | ||||||||||
FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 | 30 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Formula Regional European Championship | 25 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Super Formula Championship | ||||||||||
GP3 Series (folded 2018, expires post-2021) | ||||||||||
FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Super GT | ||||||||||
World Series Formula V8 3.5 (folded 2017, expires post-2020) | 20 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
F3 Asian Championship | ||||||||||
F3 Americas Championship | ||||||||||
IMSA Prototypes1 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
World Touring Car Cup | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Supercars Championship | ||||||||||
NASCAR Cup Series1 | ||||||||||
Indy Lights1 | ||||||||||
Formula 4 Championships | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Asian Le Mans Series Prototypes | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
European Le Mans Series Prototypes | ||||||||||
FIA World Endurance Championship LMGTE Pro | ||||||||||
FIA World Endurance Championship LMGTE Am | ||||||||||
F3 Asian Championship Winter Series | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
National Formula 3 Championships | ||||||||||
Formula Mazda1 | ||||||||||
NASCAR National Series1 | ||||||||||
Toyota Racing Series | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
International GT3 Series | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FIA Karting World Championships Senior | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FIA Karting Continental Championships Senior | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FIA Karting World Championships Junior | ||||||||||
FIA Karting Continental Championships Junior | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source:[2] |
^1 Subject to 'road course' rounds being held on FIA-homologated circuits (See List of motor racing circuits by FIA Grade for a full list).
For a series to award Super Licence points, a championship season must consist of at least 5 events spanning at least 3 different circuits. Championships, such as the 2019 F3 Asian Winter Series, may be set aside points but cannot award them if the championship season does not meet this criteria.[3]
Free Practice Only Super Licence
Beginning in the 2019 Formula One season the FIA introduced a requirement for drivers participating in free practice sessions to hold a stand alone Free Practice Only Super Licence with the holding of a standard Super licence not automatically granting a Free Practice Only Super licence. The criteria are as follows:
- A minimum age of 18
- An existing holder of an International Grade A competition licence
- Completion of either six races in Formula 2, or accumulated 25 Super Licence points in eligible championships during the previous three years.
Renewal, sanctions, and costs
Probation periods and renewal
The FIA issue licences subject to a 12 month probation period after first issue which applies to full and free practice licence. At any time during the first 12 months the FIA may review and withdraw a super licence if the standard to continue holding a licence are not being met.
Super Licences are issued on an annual calendar year basis and must be renewed at the end of each year. If a driver is no longer competing in F1 they must maintain the minimum 40 points and 80% rules to continue to hold a Super Licence.[1]
Sanctions
The FIA have a series of sanctions which can be placed on a drivers Super Licence which are in the form of reprimands and penalty points. if a driver accumulated three reprimands over the course of a season the FIA may impose penalty points. If a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points in a 12 month period they will receive a one race ban for the next event they are scheduled to participate in and a reserve driver may not be substituted in their place. The issuing of penalty points is not subject to reprimands being issued as a pre-requisite. [1]
Costs
The FIA charges the licence holder an annual fee. According to a report on the BBC, the cost of a super licence rose by an average £8,700 in 2009, and there was an extra charge of € 2,100 per point earned in 2008 - up from €447 per point in 2007.[4] In 2010, Lewis Hamilton would pay £242,000 for his licence for the season.
Reducing the cost of the super licence represented a significant policy shift for FIA's then-president Max Mosley, who wrote to Formula 1 drivers in February 2009 suggesting that they "race elsewhere if they were unable to pay for their super licences."[5] After Mosley met with representatives from the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) on March 23, 2009, the FIA issued a statement: "Following a very positive meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and representatives of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), a proposal will be made to the World Motor Sport Council to revise super licence fees for drivers in the 2010 championship".[6]
In November 2012, however, FIA announced it would again increase the cost of the super licence.[7] According to McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, the proposed increase would lead to a basic fee of €10,000 ($12,800) for the super licence plus €1,000 ($1,280) for each world championship point.[8] 2009 Formula 1 World Driver's Champion Jenson Button objected, and expressed his position that all current F1 drivers should pay the same flat fee for their super licences:
Personally I don't feel that we should be paying different super licence fees for different drivers and different point situations. I mean, when you get your licence to drive on the road, because you do more miles you don't pay more for it, do you? And you don't pay more for a licence in any other category because you've got a better car or whatever, so it should be a flat fee.
— Jenson Button, [9]
In 2009, Button's total super licensing costs were approximately €1M ($1.28M).[10][11]
Nationality of drivers
The nationality that appears on the racing licence is the same one that appears on the driver's passport.[clarification needed] This is not necessarily the same as the country issuing the racing licence. A Frenchman living in Germany can race with a German licence, but the nationality displayed would still be French. In order to race as German, the driver would need to have German nationality as well. Drivers with multiple citizenship choose their "official" nationality.[12]
References
- ^ a b c "Appendix L to the International Sporting Code". FIA. June 18, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
- ^ "APPENDIX L - INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS' LICENCES, MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, DRIVER'S EQUIPMENT AND CONDUCT - 18 MARCH 2019 UPDATE (Page 45)". FIA. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Ticktum F1 superlicence bid thwarted by eligibility rule". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "F1 set to cut super-licence fee". BBC. March 24, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association, which represents the majority of F1 drivers, had expressed its discontent at a hike in fees in 2008.
- ^ "F1 set to cut super-licence fee". BBC. March 24, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
The decision to reduce the licence cost is a big turnaround for Mosley who, in February, wrote to Formula 1 drivers to suggest they race elsewhere if they were unable to pay for their super licences.
- ^ "F1 set to cut super-licence fee". BBC. March 24, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
A number of other issues were discussed and the FIA has agreed to meet representatives of the GPDA on a regular basis to maintain what promises to be a constructive dialogue.
- ^ "F1 drivers to pay more for their FIA super license". yallaf1.com. November 6, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
F1 drivers will also have to contribute, with Eason saying the cost of their super licence is facing “massive hikes”.
- ^ "Motorsports Governing Body FIA Increases License Fees For F1 Drivers' Super License". SportsBusinessDaily Global. November 6, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
Whitmarsh shows understanding for FIA's "idea of increasing its revenue" in that manner.
- ^ "Button wants flat super licence fee". ESPN F1.com. November 6, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
Jenson Button believes all drivers should pay the same amount for their super licence to race in Formula One.
- ^ Witte Meier, Roman (November 5, 2012). "Royalties: When success is expensive". Motorsport-total.com. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
When I won the World Cup because it was just really expensive. I had to pay about a million euros, if I remember rightly," said Jenson Button, who won the title in 2009.
- ^ "Motorsports Governing Body FIA Increases License Fees For F1 Drivers' Super License". SportsBusinessDaily Global. November 6, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
When I won the title, it became really expensive. I had to pay pay an estimated €1M ($1.28M), if I remember correctly.
- ^ "FIA International Sporting Code" (PDF). FIA.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 13 October 2013. p. 34. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
9.5.2 All Drivers, irrespective of the nationality of their Licence, participating in any FIA World Championship Competition, shall retain the nationality of their passport in all official documents, publications and prize‐giving ceremonies.