The FIA Super Licence is a driver's qualification that allows the holder to compete in the Formula One World Championship. It is issued and managed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
Requirements Super Licence The FIA Racing Super Licence was introduced during the 1990s to prevent less-qualified drivers from participating in Formula 1, before being revamped in 2015, following the debut of Max Verstappen. To qualify, an applicant must meet the requirements of the FIA's International Sporting Code, Appendix L, Article 13. As of October 2025, the article states: An existing holder of an International Grade A competition licence (covered in FIA ISC Appendix L, Article 11). A minimum age of 18 at the start of their first F1 competition, though it can be issued in exceptional circumstances under the discretion of the FIA at age 17. Pass an FIA theory test on knowledge of the F1 sporting codes and regulations when applying for the first time. Completed at least 80% of each of two full seasons of any of the Championships reported in Supplement 1 of the regulations. Accumulated at least 40 points over the previous three seasons in any combination of the championships reported in Supplement 1 of the regulations.
Additionally, if a driver has previously held a super licence, they must meet one of the following requirements instead: A driver who has held a valid super licence for any of the previous three seasons is eligible for a new licence if they have completed 100 km in a free practice session in the last 3 years. A driver who has previously held a super licence but has not held a valid licence within the previous three years can be granted an exemption by the FIA on the grounds of "recent and consistent demonstration" of "outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars".
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Requirement 5 was amended to allow the three best-scoring seasons from a driver's previous four seasons to count, provided the three-season window includes 2021. If a driver accumulated at least 30 points and competed in any of the Championships reported in Supplement 1 and was unable to accumulate the 40 points due to "circumstances outside their control or reasons of force majeure", the licence could be granted at the discretion of the FIA. In June 2024, the FIA further modified the rules so that drivers were no longer required to hold a road-legal driving licence in order to apply for a super licence.
As of March 2026, the Supplement 1 Super Licence points, which also qualify for the 80% rule, are awarded according to the following table:
SeriesChampionship position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10thFIA Formula 2 Championship 40 40 40 30 20 10 8 6 4 3IndyCar Series 40 30 25 20 15 10 8 6 3 1IndyCar Series (old points before 2026, expires post-2028) 40 30 20 10 8 6 4 3 2 1FIA Formula 3 Championship 30 25 20 15 12 9 7 5 3 2FIA Formula E World Championship 30 25 20 10 8 6 4 3 2 1FIA World Endurance Championship – Hypercar 30 24 20 16 12 10 8 6 4 2Super Formula Championship 30 25 20 15 12 9 7 5 3 2Super Formula Championship (old points before 2025, expires post-2027) 25 20 15 10 7 5 3 2 1 0Formula Regional European Championship 25 20 15 10 7 5 3 2 1 0FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 (folded 2023, expires post-2026) 20 16 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0Super GT500 20 16 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0IMSA – GTP 20 16 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0Formula Regional Middle East Trophy 18 14 12 10 6 4 3 2 1 0Formula Regional Americas Championship 18 14 12 10 6 4 3 2 1 0Formula Regional Japanese Championship 18 14 12 10 6 4 3 2 1 0Formula Regional Oceania Trophy 18 14 12 10 6 4 3 2 1 0Supercars Championship 15 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0NASCAR Cup Series 15 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0Indy NXT 15 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0Euroformula Open 15 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0Super Formula Lights 15 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0FIA Formula 4 Championships 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0 0FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGT3 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0 0ALMS / ELMS / IMSA – LMP2 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGTE Am (folded 2023, expires post-2026) 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0IMSA – GTD Pro (removed post-2023, expires post-2026) 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0F1 Academy 10 7 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0USF Pro 2000 Championship 10 7 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0GB3 Championship 10 7 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0Eurocup-3 10 7 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series 10 7 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 10 7 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0International GT3 Series 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Super GT300 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (old points before 2025, expires post-2027) 15 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0FIA Karting World Championships Senior 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0FIA Karting Continental Championships Senior 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0FIA Karting World Championships Junior 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0FIA Karting Continental Championships Junior 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Source:
Points are awarded according to the applicable regulatory text of the year in which the final championship result has been achieved.
For a series to award Super Licence points, a championship season must consist of at least five events spanning at least three different circuits, with alternative circuit configurations considered to be separate circuits. Additionally, if less than sixteen drivers start the first race of an event, the number of points awarded will decrease by 10% per driver below the minimum (90% points if fifteen drivers start, 80% points if fourteen drivers start, etc.). If fewer than sixteen drivers start the first race of multiple events, then the event with the lowest number of drivers will be used for the above calculation.
A driver can earn points from either one or two series in a calendar year. The results from a maximum of two championships can be accumulated from a single calendar year, provided that the start date of the second championship falls after the end date of the first championship during the year in question.
Drivers may also earn additional points for: 1 point – driving at least 100 km during a Free Practice session for up to 10 points (with one point awarded per World Championship event). 2 points – completing an FIA Championship with a penalty points system without receiving any penalty points. 2 points – winning the Macau Grand Prix (F4). 3 points – winning the Macau Grand Prix (FR). 5 points – winning the Macau Grand Prix (F3).
If multiple drivers complete a season competing in the same car they will be awarded a fraction of their points according to their FIA Driver Categorisation:
FIA Platinum Categorisation and FIA Gold Categorisation ranked drivers – 100% of the points received. Silver ranked drivers – 75% of the points received. Bronze ranked drivers – 50% of the points received. Drivers without a categorisation will be awarded no points.
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 at the start of their first F1 competition. An existing holder of an International Grade A competition licence. Passing of an FIA theory test on knowledge of the F1 sporting codes and regulations when applying for the first time. Completion of either six races in Formula 2, or accumulated 25 Super Licence points in eligible championships during the previous three years, when applying for the first time.
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 licences. At any time during the first 12 months the FIA may review and withdraw a super licence if the standards 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.
In 2006, Yuji Ide had his licence revoked, following a crash at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix, after which the FIA determined that he did not have enough experience to warrant having a Super Licence.
Sanctions
Drivers accrue penalty points and reprimands on their Super Licence for driving infractions. If a driver accumulates five reprimands over the course of a season, the FIA may impose a grid penalty and penalty points. Since 2014, a total of 12 penalty points in a 12-month period has resulted in a one-race ban. The only race ban to ever be enforced via this methodology was Kevin Magnussen's for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Active penalty points
Driver Points Oliver Bearman Haas 4 2026 Italian Grand Prix Franco Colapinto Alpine 14 June 2027 Alexander Albon Williams 3 2026 Spanish Grand Prix Lance Stroll Aston Martin 2026 Singapore Grand Prix Liam Lawson Racing Bulls Red Bull Racing 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Yuki Tsunoda Racing Bulls Red Bull Racing‡ 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 2 2026 Italian Grand Prix Carlos Sainz Jr. Williams 2026 Singapore Grand Prix Oscar Piastri McLaren 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls 23 August 2027 Esteban Ocon Haas 1 2026 Italian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton Ferrari2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Sources: Not an active competitor. No longer competing for the team.
Costs The FIA charges the licence holder an annual fee. According to a report from the BBC, the cost of maintaining a super licence rose by an average of £8,700 in 2009, with an extra charge of €2,100 per point earned in 2008—up from €447 per point in 2007. In 2009, Lewis Hamilton paid £242,000 for his licence for the season.
Increasing the cost of the super licence represented a significant policy shift for the FIA's then-president Max Mosley, who wrote in February 2009 that drivers should "race elsewhere if they were unable to pay for their super licences" in response to reports that drivers were unhappy with the cost of their super licences and even refusing to sign their super licence contracts. Later on March 23, after Mosley met with representatives from the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, 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".
In November 2012, however, the FIA announced that it would increase the cost of the super licence once again. 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. 2009 Formula 1 World Driver's Champion Jenson Button objected to the increase, and expressed his position that all current F1 drivers should pay the same flat fee for their super licences:
Button's super licence fee for the 2010 season, based on his 2009 results, were variously reported on, with one source claiming he spent "over a quarter of a million Euros to race that year!" and other sources raising that claim to approximately €1M ($1.28M).
As of December 2024, the basic fee for a super licence is €11,453 with estimates that the per-point fee has also risen to €2,313. Max Verstappen paid a record €1,217,900 for his Super Licence, based on his results.
Nationality of drivers