FIA’s new superlicense points system…Ricciardo who?

In what can only be described as a bit of a head-scratcher, the FIA have released the new qualifications for acquiring a superlicense in order to prevent drivers from entering Formula One too young…this based on some concern over the signing of 18-year-old Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso for 2015.

Drivers, starting next year, will have to be 18-years-old and will have to have passed a test on the sporting regulations as well as completed at least two years in a junior single-seater category to qualify.

The new license system has a points value associated with it and it seems that drivers will have to have scored 40 or more points in a three year period preceding the application for Super License.

Now this is where it gets a little goofy because only five championships qualify as categories capable of delivering any or all of the 40 points needed. Those series include IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship (LMP1 class only), the Formula 3 European Championship, GP2 and the Formula 2 championship that doesn’t exist yet but pays out the biggest points. In fact, finishing in 4th in this vapor series pays out the same points as winning the title in Formula Renault 3.5!

Names such as Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Charles Pic, and Paul di Resta would all have been missing from their F1 debuts under these new rules. Oddly enough, the new rules also state that to automatically qualify for a superlicense, the driver must have started at least five F1 races in the previous year or 15 races in the previous three years. Makes you wonder if Kimi Raikkonen would have qualified for his return to Ferrari doesn’t it?

The points weighting toward FIA pet project, Formula 2, is really a ham-fisted move as the championship isn’t really written on stone yet—a bit self-serving to say the least. Especially when you consider GP2 and GP3 as a healthy place and feeder system in which to train new talent.

The points: