The FIA has revealed the new requirements to qualify for a Formula 1 superlicence in light of changes which were made following criticism of Max Verstappen’s seat with Toro Rosso.
Verstappen will be 17 when he makes his debut this year, but future drivers will need to be at least 18, they will need to pass a test on the sporting regulations and have competed in at least two seasons of junior single-seater categories.
They will also be required to earn a minimum of 40 points in the three years preceding their application for a superlicence.
The new points system was revealed by the FIA on Monday, with only five championships offering the full 40 points needed – IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship (LMP1), the Formula 3 European Championship, GP2 and a future Formula 2 championship.
Therefore a GP3 or Renault 3.5 champion would need additional points from a previous or future season to qualify.
Verstappen wouldn’t qualify on the grounds of his age, or the amount of points on his licence with his third placed finish in the F3 standings scoring just 20 points. However with the rule not coming into effect until 2016, it doesn’t apply to the Toro Rosso driver.
| Championship | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2 Championship | 60 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| GP2 Series | 50 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| F3 European Championship | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| WEC (LMP1 only) | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| IndyCar | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| GP3 Series | 30 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Formula Renault 3.5 | 30 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Japanese Super Formula | 20 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| National F4 Championships (FIA) | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| National F3 Championships | 10 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EuroCup, ALPS or NEC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
