TheFIA Super Licence is a driver's qualification allowing the holder to compete in theFormula One World Championship. It is issued and managed by theFédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
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 ofMax Verstappen.[1][2] To qualify, an applicant must meet the requirements of the FIA'sInternational Sporting Code, Appendix L, Article 13. As of October 2025[update], the article states:
Additionally, if a driver has previously held a super licence, they must meet one of the following requirements instead:
In response to theCOVID-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.[4] 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.[5]
As of October 2025[update],[6] 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 |
| IndyCar Series[A] | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| FIA Formula E World Championship | 30 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| FIA World Endurance Championship – Hypercar | 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 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Super Formula Championship (old points before 2025, expires post-2027) | 25 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 (folded 2023, expires post-2026) | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Super GT500 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| IMSA – GTP[A] | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Formula Regional Middle East Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Formula Regional Asian Championship (folded 2022, expires post-2025) | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Formula Regional Americas Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Formula Regional Japanese Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Formula Regional Oceania Championship | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (old points before 2025, expires post-2027) | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| World Touring Car Cup (folded 2022, expires post-2025) | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Supercars Championship[A] | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| NASCAR Cup Series[A] | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Indy NXT[A] | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| W Series (folded 2022, expires post-2025) | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Euroformula Open | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Super Formula Lights | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| FIAFormula 4 Championships[B][C] | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGT3 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGTE Pro (folded 2022, expires post-2025) | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ALMS /ELMS /IMSA – LMP2 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGTE Am (folded 2023, expires post-2026) | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IMSA – GTD Pro[A](removed post-2023, expires post-2026) | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NationalFormula 3 Championships(removed post-2022, expires post-2025) | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| F1 Academy (from 2024 onwards) | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USF Pro 2000 Championship[A] | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GB3 Championship | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series[A] | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| InternationalGT3 Series | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Super GT300 (from 2025 onwards) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA Karting World Championships Senior[D] | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA Karting Continental Championships Senior[D] | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA Karting World Championships Junior[D] | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIA Karting Continental Championships Junior[D] | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Source:[3] | ||||||||||
Points are awarded according to the applicable regulatory text of the year in which the final championship result has been achieved.[3]
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.[3]
A driver can earn points from either 1 or 2 series in a calendar year. The results from a maximum of 2 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.[3]
Drivers may also earn additional points for:
If multiple drivers complete a season competing in the same car they will be awarded a fraction of their points according to theirFIA Driver Categorisation:
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.[1] The criteria are as follows:
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.[3]
In 2006,Yuji Ide had his licence revoked, following a crash at the2006 San Marino Grand Prix, after which the FIA determined that he did not have enough experience to warrant having a Super Licence.[7][8]
Drivers accrue penalty points and reprimands on their Super Licence for driving infractions.[9] If a driver accumulates five reprimands over the course of a season, the FIA may impose agrid penalty and penalty points.[10] Since 2014, a total of 12 penalty points in a 12-month period has resulted in a one-race ban.[11] The only race ban to ever be enforced via this methodology wasKevin Magnussen's for the2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.[12]
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This table is correct as of the2025 Mexico City Grand Prix.
† Not an active competitor.
‡ No longer competing for the team.
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.[15] 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-presidentMax 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.[16][17] Later on March 23, after Mosley met with representatives from theGrand 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".[18]
However, in November 2012, the FIA announced that it would increase the cost of the super licence once again.[19] 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.[20] 2009 Formula 1 World Driver's ChampionJenson Button objected to the increase, 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.
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).[22][23][24]
As of December 2024[update], the basic fee for a super licence is €11,453 with estimates that the per-point fee has also risen to €2,313.[25]Max Verstappen paid a record €1,217,900 for his2024 Super Licence, based on his2023 results.[26]
The nationality that appears on the racing licence is identical to a driver'spassport. This is not necessarily the same as the country issuing the racing licence. A French national living in Germany would receive a licence issued by the German motorsport authorities, but the nationality displayed on the licence would still be French. In order to race with a licence that displays German, the driver would need to have a German passport as well. Drivers withmultiple citizenship choose their "official" nationality.[3]
As a result of this rule, several mistakes have occurred on official entry lists and podium ceremonies that were issued or organized by theFIA or race organisers. These include British driverJohn Watson being mistakenly identified under the Irish nationality by some official Grand Prix entry lists,[27][28] andEddie Irvine, a British citizen who held a racing licence issued by the National Sporting Authority of theRepublic of Ireland, being listed as an Irish national on the official entry lists for the1995 and1996 seasons.[29][30] The latter resulted in confusion surrounding Irvine's nationality, with theIrish Tricolour being flown during his podium appearances at the1995 Canadian Grand Prix,1996 Australian Grand Prix,1997 Argentine Grand Prix and1997 Monaco Grand Prix.
This rule, however, has not been in force since the beginning of the Formula One World Championship. In the past, the choice of nationality was up to the driver. For instance,Jochen Rindt chose to race in Formula One under the Austrian flag despite being born in Germany and not possessing Austrian citizenship, as he competed with a licence issued by the Austrian National Sporting Authority during his career.[31]
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association, which represents the majority of F1 drivers, had expressed its discontent at a hike in fees in 2008.
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.
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 will also have to contribute, with Eason saying the cost of their super licence is facing "massive hikes".
Jenson Button believes all drivers should pay the same amount for their super licence to race in Formula One.
I think I spent over a quarter of a million Euros on my licence to race that year!
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.
When I won the title, it became really expensive. I had to pay pay an estimated €1M ($1.28M), if I remember correctly.
