The FIA could tweak Superlicence criteria in the near future

The FIA have announced that they could yet tweak the superlicence criteria, conceding that adjustments on how many points each series is worth could be made “year-on-year”.

Earlier this month as reported below, the FIA revealed its criteria for a driver wanting to apply for a superlicence. With the FIA imposing a minimum age limit of 18 and insisting that the applicant must hold a valid road licence, the FIA has also put forward a points table to ensure that only those who have proven themselves in junior series can make it into F1.

That points table has not gone down well with everyone associated with Formula One. Engine manufacturer Renault have already approached the FIA as to why winning their Formula Renault 3.5 is only worth 30 points while others feel DTM should be added to the list.,

The FIA though have now stated that the points table could be adjusted in the years to come.A spokesman for motorsport’s governing body told Autosport later this week the following:-

'We have defined a robust framework for the conditions of qualifications.
With regards to the points system itself, it is effectively only natural that some adjustments may be done year-on-year.'

Further on in the interview, the FIA insist that they took various factors into account when deciding what each series is worth. They added the following:-

'The criteria with which the points system has been defined are not only driven by the relative sporting performance of the various championships.
There are other considerations that we, as the rule maker, need to include as well.

'We are of course listening to Renault’s feedback or any other party involved.
And, as explained before, based on our experience with the new superlicence structure, we might in the future adjust the points system.'

All you can say overall is that even though many pundits and fans are not happy with the current system that the FIA currently have in place with the superlicences (and rightly so), they have stated this week that they are open to discussions from parties such as Renault and also planning to reviewing and adjusting the system year on year which is great to see, even if it doesn't help the situation at present.

However, I still do not get the reason why the F2 championship which doesn't even exist gets more weighting than other established feeder championship series such as a GP2, GP3 and Formula Renault 3.5 which have over the past few season seen previous drivers impressing and making the jump to a race seat in Formula One.

For me that should have been taken into consideration and the fact that the FIA back GP2 and GP3 as their feeder route to get into the sport in the first place, you could say that they are even undermining their own system and this could have a negative impact on drivers currently in the series in question and also new drivers following the “supposed” route to get to Formula One as quickly as possible which wouldn't benefit the FIA or the series involved in the long term future.

Furthermore, I still don't understand why other motorsport series such as DTM haven't even been considered for the criteria, even though we have seen drivers such as Paul di Resta and also Susie Wolff as a result of their performances in the series getting involved in some capacity in Formula One. And I do feel that it should be included in the criteria in some shape or form.

But all we can do now as fans even though we don't agree with the current system is to see if the F2 championship (which has the most weighting) can get going by next season, otherwise I do see the FIA having to once again review the system and I do see this happening sooner rather than later.

Previously we reported

FIA reveal changes to the points system to gain a super licence (reported 6th Jan)

It has been announced this morning that the FIA has revealed details of the new points system that will be used to qualify for mandatory Formula 1 superlicences.

As part of a clampdown on young and inexperienced drivers getting to F1 following Max Verstappen’s signing by Toro Rosso, the FIA in December ratified a new system that will be used for 2016.

From next season, drivers will need to be at least 18 years old, have passed a test on sporting regulations and completed at least two years in junior single-seater categories to qualify for a super licence.

The details of the new licence points system have now been clarified this morning with drivers needing to have scored at least 40 points during the three-year period preceding the application.

Only five championships deliver those 40 points for title success – IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship (LMP1), the Formula 3 European Championship, GP2 and a future Formula 2 championship.

It means the winners of GP3 and Formula Renault 3.5 would need to have achieved success in previous seasons to be able to qualify for a superlicence.

Although there has been no official confirmation from the FIA about plans for an F2 championship, it has weighted the category with the most points – with third place in the standings worth as much as title success in F3, WEC and IndyCar.

Max Verstappen finished third in the F3 standings last year, which would have earned him just 20 points on the new licence system, and forced him to either race again in the category or move up to GP2.

But overall, it was clear to all pundits and fans that something needed to be done with regards to obtaining a Super Licence by the FIA. However, on social media, many pundits and fans are questioning why a championship that doesn't even exist (F2) holds the most weight over championships such as GP2, GP3 or Formula Renault 3.5 that are established and we have seen plenty of young, talented drivers racing in Formula One and having great success in the sport as a result.

But unless the FIA can get the F2 championship up and running by 2016 which would be an achievement in itself, I do think that changes may need to be made to the system they have released to the media today that reflect the existing categories that have already been mentioned and look more closely at giving these championships the weighting that F2 currently holds in the list at the moment.

But all we can do is wait and see what happens with the list and the F2 championship and see if the FIA will have to make the changes that they might not want to make, but may be forced to if things do not get up and running with the F2 championship in 2016 and also in the near future too. And I think that it's looking very likely that this is going to be the case sooner rather than later.