F1 Explained - The Super Licence

In lieu of Mclaren's recent Indycar sign-ups, are the drivers eligible for a super licence? 

Here is the second episode of the F1 Explained series.

In this episode, Mithila & Sundaram talk about the 'FIA super licence', a prerequisite for any driver who wants to race a Formula 1 car.

They also explore the scenario at Mclaren & explain what exactly do the drivers on their radar need to do for their super licence. 

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How does a driver become eligible? And how long is a super licence valid? Is a female racer eligible for a super licence as well?

Tune in as Mithila & Sundaram share their research in this episode of the F1 Explained series. Have a topic you would like us to speak about in the next episode? Write to us via our Instagram page.

(Season 2022, Episode 42)

Follow our hosts: Mithila Mehta & Sundaram Ramaswami

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

# Episode 42: FIA Super License: A Gateway to Formula One

In this episode of the F1 Explained series, Mithila and Sundaram delve into the intricacies of the FIA super license, a prerequisite for drivers aspiring to compete in Formula One.

**What is a Super License?**

Similar to a driving license for road cars, a super license is a mandatory requirement for drivers seeking to participate in the Formula One World Championship. It serves as a filter to ensure that drivers possess the necessary skills, experience, and safety standards to compete at the pinnacle of motor racing.

**Eligibility Criteria**

To obtain a super license, drivers must meet several eligibility criteria. They must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid driving license, pass a written test on the International Sporting Code and sporting regulations, and complete at least 80% of two FIA-approved championships. Additionally, they need to accumulate a minimum of 40 super license points over the last three seasons.

**Super License Points System**

Drivers can earn super license points through various FIA-approved racing categories, with Formula 2 and IndyCar offering the highest weightage. Finishing in the top three of a Formula 2 season or winning the IndyCar title grants the required 40 points. Lower positions in the standings yield fewer points. Other categories like Formula 3, Formula E, and WEC also contribute to the points tally.

**Alternative Methods for Acquiring Points**

Drivers who fall short of the 40-point threshold can still improve their case by participating in Formula One free practice sessions or conducting private tests with F1 teams. Each free practice session with a minimum of 100 kilometers (20-30 laps) earns a super license point, with a maximum of 10 points attainable through this method. Private tests require drivers to complete at least 300 kilometers in an F1 car at consistent racing speeds over a day or two, demonstrating their ability to compete at the highest level of motorsport.

**Female Drivers and Super License Eligibility**

Female drivers are eligible for super licenses under the FIA regulations, although the regulations predominantly use male pronouns. Despite the lack of explicit gender-neutral language, there is a provision for female F1 drivers.

**McLaren Drivers' Super License Status**

Among the drivers on McLaren's radar, only Jehan Daruwala currently possesses a super license, having accumulated enough points through his Formula 2 results and a private test with McLaren. Drivers like Pato O'Ward and Colton Herta have a substantial number of points but require private tests with McLaren to become eligible.

**Super License Expiry**

Super licenses have a validity period of three years. Unless drivers complete a certain amount of mileage, such as free practice sessions or testing, or convince the FIA of their continued ability to drive a Formula One car, their licenses expire. This provision allowed drivers like Nico Hulkenberg and Robert Kubica to maintain their super licenses despite not competing regularly.

This episode of F1 Explained provided a comprehensive overview of the FIA super license, its eligibility criteria, methods for acquiring points, and the status of McLaren drivers in terms of super license possession. The hosts also highlighted the need for gender-neutral language in the super license regulations to promote inclusivity in Formula One.

[00:00.000 -> 00:28.480] Hello everyone, it's me Mithila and I'm back on the Inside Line Formula 1 podcast with our new and popular F1 Explained series.
[00:29.120 -> 00:32.240] Guys, this is only the second episode of the series,
[00:32.240 -> 00:36.480] but we received really great feedback from you guys regarding the first episode.
[00:36.480 -> 00:37.360] So here we are!
[00:38.160 -> 00:41.840] The first episode we spoke about the history of Formula 1,
[00:41.840 -> 00:45.040] and actually a quick reminder on what this F1 Explained series
[00:45.040 -> 00:46.440] is all about.
[00:46.440 -> 00:50.880] This series revisits the facts, the rules, and the history of Formula 1.
[00:50.880 -> 00:55.520] But don't worry, not every episode will be about history, and not every episode is going
[00:55.520 -> 00:56.800] to take you back.
[00:56.800 -> 01:01.440] In fact, this series is going to bridge the gap between the new and the seasoned Formula
[01:01.440 -> 01:02.760] 1 fan.
[01:02.760 -> 01:05.280] New episodes will play out whenever there's a fortnight's
[01:05.280 -> 01:11.200] gap between the two races. Basically, whenever we don't have enough of Formula 1 happening around us.
[01:11.200 -> 01:17.600] And finally, this series is hosted by me, Mithila, and the famous F1 stats guru,
[01:17.600 -> 01:23.760] who we also know as Sundaram. He's actually more than just a stats guru, guys, and you can ask
[01:23.760 -> 01:26.000] Crofty for more if you'd like to know.
[01:26.000 -> 01:31.560] Sundaram and I will research and bring y'all interesting topics about Formula One.
[01:31.560 -> 01:36.000] And in this episode, we will talk about the super license.
[01:36.000 -> 01:39.160] I'm sure all of you have heard about the super license.
[01:39.160 -> 01:44.640] It kind of crops up every time there's a new driver making a foray into Formula One.
[01:44.640 -> 01:49.680] In fact, McLaren's recent hires from IndyCar brought up the question about super licenses
[01:49.680 -> 01:50.680] even more.
[01:50.680 -> 01:57.280] Of course, I had to rack my brains and remember when I first heard about the super license,
[01:57.280 -> 02:05.000] it was in 2001 when Kimi Räikkönen graduated to Formula 1 and he was given a conditional super license for
[02:05.000 -> 02:10.680] just the four first races of the season and that was quite interesting. So guys
[02:10.680 -> 02:15.360] in this episode of the F1 Explained series we're going to talk about what is
[02:15.360 -> 02:20.960] a super license, what is the eligibility criteria, in the case of McLaren can
[02:20.960 -> 02:26.160] IndyCar drivers make a switch to Formula 1? And what is their superlicense status?
[02:26.160 -> 02:31.360] For me, also the most important question, how are female drivers eligible to apply for
[02:31.360 -> 02:32.360] a superlicense?
[02:32.360 -> 02:38.320] So over to Sundaram, who's got all these answers and a lot more to go.
[02:38.320 -> 02:40.480] What is a superlicense?
[02:40.480 -> 02:44.680] So just like you would need a driving license to drive a road car, you would mandatorily
[02:44.680 -> 02:48.920] need a superlicense to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
[02:48.920 -> 02:52.020] That's your entry ticket to the pinnacle of motor racing.
[02:52.020 -> 02:56.720] It's a way of filtering down and ensuring a driver has the necessary skills and is experienced
[02:56.720 -> 02:59.200] enough to drive in Formula One.
[02:59.200 -> 03:03.000] Potential alone or bags of money just won't do.
[03:03.000 -> 03:04.880] So there's an eligibility criterion here?
[03:04.880 -> 03:05.920] Yes, there are
[03:05.920 -> 03:10.320] quite a few prerequisites to earn a super license. Drivers firstly need to be
[03:10.320 -> 03:14.960] at least 18 years of age and need to hold a valid driving license. They also
[03:14.960 -> 03:18.680] have to pass a written test on the International Sporting Code and the
[03:18.680 -> 03:23.600] sporting regulations and must have also completed at least 80% of two FIA
[03:23.600 -> 03:26.200] approved championships. Additionally,
[03:26.200 -> 03:30.800] they also need to have a minimum tally of 40 Super License points in the last three
[03:30.800 -> 03:33.720] seasons. Remember that number.
[03:33.720 -> 03:38.500] So did Max Verstappen have a part to play in the framing of these rules? Yes, he did.
[03:38.500 -> 03:42.680] The Super License system has been around for decades, but they weren't as detailed back
[03:42.680 -> 03:51.800] in the day. That allowed Red Bull to exploit a few loopholes and fast track Max Verstappen into Formula 1 at the age of 17.
[03:51.800 -> 03:56.600] But that got the FIA a little concerned, and rightly so, because it raised questions not
[03:56.600 -> 04:01.960] only on the experience of these drivers, but also on general safety and fitness. The FIA
[04:01.960 -> 04:05.080] were quick to publish a revised system with a minimum age
[04:05.080 -> 04:10.520] bar along with a super-licensed points accumulation system based on their performances in the
[04:10.520 -> 04:16.080] junior categories or other single-seater championships. If the current system existed years ago, the
[04:16.080 -> 04:20.760] likes of Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and even Kimi Raikkonen wouldn't have been eligible
[04:20.760 -> 04:24.540] to debut in Formula 1 at the time they did.
[04:24.540 -> 04:26.720] So how does one earn super license points?
[04:26.720 -> 04:31.020] Well, there are over 30 racing categories under the FIA in which you can earn these
[04:31.020 -> 04:32.260] points.
[04:32.260 -> 04:36.620] Formula 2 gets the biggest share here as the FIA encourages drivers to make it through
[04:36.620 -> 04:39.340] Formula 2 before driving in Formula 1.
[04:39.340 -> 04:41.740] IndyCar comes next in terms of weightage.
[04:41.740 -> 04:50.140] So if you finish in the top 3 of a Formula 2 season or win the IndyCar title, you straight away earn the required 40 points for a super license.
[04:50.140 -> 04:54.960] However, if you finish lower in the standings, you collect lesser points. Other categories
[04:54.960 -> 05:01.380] such as Formula 3, Formula E and WEC can also give you a good haul of points.
[05:01.380 -> 05:06.320] But what if a driver still doesn't earn the required 40 points over 3 seasons? Is that
[05:06.320 -> 05:11.760] it for them? No, not really. The major chunk of points actually come from these championships.
[05:11.760 -> 05:16.680] But drivers can further improve their case in two other ways. One is by partaking in
[05:16.680 -> 05:22.040] F1 free practice sessions. Apart from gaining hands-on experience of driving an F1 car,
[05:22.040 -> 05:30.340] they also earn a super license point if they do a minimum of 100 km in every free practice session. That's roughly 20-30 laps depending on the
[05:30.340 -> 05:35.680] track length. They can earn a maximum of 10 points via these free practice sessions.
[05:35.680 -> 05:40.040] The second method is through private tests with F1 teams, just like the ones Colton Hurta
[05:40.040 -> 05:45.120] and Jehan Daruwala have been having with McLaren. The stipulation there is they need to complete
[05:45.120 -> 05:51.000] at least 300 km in an F1 car at consistent racing speeds over a day or two. That's a
[05:51.000 -> 05:56.320] way of proving to the FIA that these drivers can compete at the highest level of motorsport.
[05:56.320 -> 06:00.520] So these are the ways drivers collect superlicense points. Once they've accumulated enough and
[06:00.520 -> 06:04.800] have fulfilled the other requirements, they'll be eligible for a superlicense and will then
[06:04.800 -> 06:07.940] be actively on the lookout to join a Formula One team.
[06:07.940 -> 06:08.940] Okay, great.
[06:08.940 -> 06:10.540] This was very, very interesting.
[06:10.540 -> 06:11.820] Thank you so much, Sundaram.
[06:11.820 -> 06:16.220] It's like my brain is buzzing with all these super license facts.
[06:16.220 -> 06:21.940] The most obvious question to my mind, how are female drivers eligible for a super license?
[06:21.940 -> 06:24.540] And the answer is yes, they absolutely are eligible.
[06:24.540 -> 06:25.080] Here's the interesting part. is eligible for a super license? And the answer is, yes, they absolutely are eligible.
[06:25.080 -> 06:27.320] Here's the interesting part.
[06:27.320 -> 06:30.600] The FIA super license regulations, we read that,
[06:30.600 -> 06:33.400] and they actually predominantly use the words he, him,
[06:33.400 -> 06:36.880] and his, so very male-centric.
[06:36.880 -> 06:39.560] In terms of the word count, the word she
[06:39.560 -> 06:43.720] appears literally zero times, and her appears once.
[06:43.720 -> 06:46.880] So while there is a provision for female F1 drivers,
[06:46.880 -> 06:54.320] it's not really out there in the regulations. Anyway, back to McLaren. So do all the drivers
[06:54.320 -> 07:00.400] in McLaren's radar already have superlicenses? Well, at the moment, Jehan Daruwala is the only
[07:00.400 -> 07:09.180] one with enough points and as we know, he's applied for a super license. It was a mix of his results in Formula 2 and the private test that he
[07:09.180 -> 07:13.460] did with McLaren last month that made him eligible. As for the likes of Pater
[07:13.460 -> 07:17.980] O'Ward and Colton Hurta, they have a decent amount of points in their kitty
[07:17.980 -> 07:23.940] but they will need to run private tests with McLaren to become eligible. Finally
[07:23.940 -> 07:26.560] let's talk about how a super license can expire.
[07:27.120 -> 07:30.000] Well, they have an expiry date of 3 years.
[07:30.560 -> 07:32.960] And unless the driver has completed some mileage,
[07:32.960 -> 07:35.920] like a free practice session or some sort of testing,
[07:37.520 -> 07:39.440] or you're an important rider,
[07:39.440 -> 07:44.240] they can convince the FIA that they still possess the ability to drive a Formula 1 car.
[07:45.540 -> 07:51.460] This was how the likes of Nico Halkenberg and Robert Kubica had their super licenses
[07:51.460 -> 07:55.320] despite not competing on a regular basis.
[07:55.320 -> 08:00.960] This also means that if Kimi Räikkönen decides to make a second comeback to Formula 1…
[08:00.960 -> 08:04.200] Okay, anyway, that's just me being wishful about it.
[08:04.200 -> 08:06.560] Anyway, thank you so much for listening.
[08:06.560 -> 08:10.520] And we will be back in the August break with another interesting and exciting episode of
[08:10.520 -> 08:12.200] F1 Explained.
[08:12.200 -> 08:15.440] And guys, if you all are interested, yes, you can write to the FIA to make their super
[08:15.440 -> 08:18.320] license regulations gender neutral.
[08:18.320 -> None] Thank you and keep racing. you