Tomorrow might 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 must be allowed to race in System 1.
The superlicence factors system initially awarded factors to drivers based mostly solely on their ending positions in numerous classes beneath F1. Now further factors are awarded for taking part in F1 observe 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 with the intention to obtain their aim (the requirement to take action in consecutive seasons was quickly relaxed as a result of Covid-19 pandemic).
F1’s superlicence system has probably prevented some drivers from racing in F1 after they might have carried out. AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) needed to run IndyCar driver Colton Herta in 2023, however couldn’t as he didn’t have enough superlicence factors, regardless of being a a number of race-winner in one of many few single seater classes the place automobile efficiency is near that seen in F1.
A decade since its introduction, is F1’s superlicence factors system performing a helpful operate for the collection 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 | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIA System 2 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 201 |
| FIA System 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 System | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 128 |
| IndyCar | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 124 |
| FIA System E | 30 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 109 |
| System 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 |
| System Regional Center East Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 70 |
| System Regional Americas Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 70 |
| System Regional Japanese Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 70 |
| System Regional Oceania Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 70 |
| System 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 System Lights | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 55 |
| Nationwide FIA System 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 varied standards, together with solely visiting FIA-certified tracks and involving a minimal variety of drivers. Drivers can solely depend factors from two championships per yr and not more than 12 factors from karting collection.
Three additional factors are awarded to the winner of the System Regional World Cup. Drivers can accumulate as much as 10 factors by taking part in System 1 observe classes and acquire a further two factors by protecting a ‘clear sheet’ in any collection the place penalty factors are issued for driving infractions.
For
System 1 is the highest degree of worldwide motor racing and drivers want to point out 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 sensible to favour these whose guidelines and rules are closest to F1’s.
No system is ever going to be excellent, and though F1’s superlicence factors system is difficult, it largely does its job.
In opposition to
The superlicence factors system units a better bar for some drivers relying on what collection they had been capable of race in, which can have much less to do with their means than what they will afford. F1’s prime junior collection have develop into much more costly lately as all their races happen at grand prix weekends.
The factors allocations for some collection present the system is meant to favour FIA over non-FIA collection, placing drivers from some areas, notably the USA, at an obstacle.
I say
The previous 5 years have revealed how cynical the superlicence factors system is. When an IndyCar driver comparable to Colton Herta comes up brief, no exceptions are made. When a rich driver in an FIA-sanctioned collection wants a licence, instantly 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 severely.
New F1 drivers must be required to take checks demonstrating they will drive the automobiles and perceive the racing guidelines. The pointless, over-complicated and bureaucratic superlicence factors system must 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 big minority felt the system had benefit. 5 years on, have these views modified considerably?
Do you agree F1 ought to preserve its superlicence factors system?
- No opinion (0%)
- Strongly disagree (56%)
- Barely disagree (25%)
- Neither agree nor disagree (0%)
- Barely agree (19%)
- Strongly agree (0%)
Complete Voters: 16
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