The FIA’s widely-debated Formula One superlicence points system is finally about to come into force.
From the 2016 season, new drivers will only be able to come into F1 if they have scored at least 40 points which are awarded based on their finishing positions in different championships recognised by the FIA.
With almost all of this year’s racing action complete, here’s which drivers have passed the crucial 40 – and who needs to score more next year to have a chance to break into Formula One.
Drivers with sufficient points: 34
| Driver | Points | Scores counted from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Lotterer | 140 | P2 in WEC LMP1 2013 P2 in Super Formula 2013 P2 in WEC LMP1 2014 P3 in Super Formula 2014 P2 in WEC LMP1 2015 P3 in Super Formula 2015 |
Did one race for Caterham in 2014 |
| Stoffel Vandoorne | 105 | P2 in Formula Renault 3.5 2013 P2 in GP2 2014 P1 in GP2 2015 |
GP2 champion, McLaren junior driver, recently tested a Super Formula car ahead of a potential 2016 switch |
| Scott Dixon | 100 | P1 in IndyCar 2013 P3 in IndyCar 2014 P1 in IndyCar 2015 |
|
| Benoit Treluyer | 90 | P2 in WEC LMP1 2013 P2 in WEC LMP1 2014 P2 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Marcel Fassler | 90 | P2 in WEC LMP1 2013 P2 in WEC LMP1 2014 P2 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Loic Duval | 79 | P1 in WEC LMP1 2013 P3 in Super Formula 2013 P7 in WEC LMP1 2014 P4 in Super Formula 2014 P4 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Esteban Ocon | 75 | P3 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2013 P1 in Euro F3 2014 P1 in GP3 2015 |
Mercedes junior driver, tested for Lotus in 2014, GP3 champion |
| Felix Rosenqvist | 73 | P2 in Euro F3 2013 P8 in Euro F3 2014 P1 in Euro F3 2015 |
European Formula Three champion |
| Will Power | 70 | P4 in IndyCar 2013 P1 in IndyCar 2014 P3 in IndyCar 2015 |
|
| Sebastien Buemi | 68 | P3 in WEC LMP1 2013 P1 in WEC LMP1 2014 P5 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
Raced in F1 with Toro Rosso |
| Anthony Davidson | 68 | P3 in WEC LMP1 2013 P1 in WEC LMP1 2014 P5 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
Raced in F1 with Super Aguri |
| Helio Castroneves | 68 | P2 in IndyCar 2013 P2 in IndyCar 2014 P5 in IndyCar 2015 |
|
| Kazuki Nakajima | 62 | P4 in Super Formula 2013 P8 in WEC LMP1 2014 P1 in Super Formula 2014 P7 in WEC LMP1 2015 P2 in Super Formula 2015 |
Raced in F1 with Williams |
| Oliver Rowland | 60 | P2 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2013 P4 in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 2013 P4 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 P1 in Formula Renault 3.5 2015 |
Formula Renault 3.5 champion |
| Alex Lynn | 58 | P3 in Euro F3 2013 P1 in GP3 2014 P6 in GP2 2015 |
Williams junior driver, former Red Bull junior driver |
| Felipe Nasr | 50 | P4 in GP2 2013 P3 in GP2 2014 |
Already in F1 |
| Raffaele Marciello | 50 | P1 in Euro F3 2013 P8 in GP2 2014 P7 in GP2 2015 |
Ferrari Driver Academy member, Sauber tester |
| Tom Kristensen | 50 | P1 in WEC LMP1 2013 P4 in WEC LMP1 2014 |
Retired in 2014 |
| Jolyon Palmer | 46 | P7 in GP2 2013 P1 in GP2 2014 |
Will make F1 debut with Lotus next year |
| Alexander Rossi | 43 | P9 in GP2 2013 P2 in GP2 2015 |
Already in F1 |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | 43 | P2 in British F3 2013 P6 in Euro F3 2014 P2 in Euro F3 2015 |
|
| Sergey Sirotkin | 42 | P9 in Formula Renault 3.5 2013 P5 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 P3 in GP2 2015 |
|
| Brendon Hartley | 42 | P9 in WEC LMP1 2014 P1 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Mark Webber | 42 | P9 in WEC LMP1 2014 P1 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
Raced in F1 with Red Bull |
| Timo Bernhard | 42 | P9 in WEC LMP1 2014 P1 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Nyck de Vries | 41 | P5 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2013 P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2014 P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS 2014 P3 in Formula Renault 3.5 2015 |
McLaren junior driver |
| Fabio Leimer | 40 | P1 in GP2 2013 | |
| Sam Bird | 40 | P2 in GP2 2013 | |
| Allan McNish | 40 | P1 in WEC LMP1 2013 | Retired in 2013 |
| Marvin Kirchhofer | 40 | P1 in German F3 2013 P3 in GP3 2014 P3 in GP3 2015 |
|
| Neel Jani | 40 | P3 in WEC LMP1 2014 P3 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Marc Lieb | 40 | P3 in WEC LMP1 2014 P3 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Romain Dumas | 40 | P3 in WEC LMP1 2014 P3 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
|
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 40 | P4 in IndyCar 2014 P2 in IndyCar 2015 |
Raced in F1 with Williams and McLaren |
NB. Nelson Piquet Jnr also qualifies for an F1 superlicence as the reigning Formula E champion. He has no superlicence points.
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Drivers within 20 points of qualifying: 42
Some of these drivers may qualify on other grounds (see below).
| Driver | Points | Scores counted from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre Gasly | 39 | P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2013 P2 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 P8 in GP2 2015 |
Red Bull junior driver, hasn’t won in last two years |
| Yvan Muller | 39 | P1 in WTCC 2013 P2 in WTCC 2014 P2 in WTCC 2015 |
|
| Joao Paulo de Oliveira | 37 | P5 in Super Formula 2013 P2 in Super Formula 2014 P4 in Super Formula 2015 |
|
| Kevin Magnussen | 35 | P1 in Formula Renault 3.5 2013 | Scored podium on McLaren F1 debut last year but dropped after a season as a test driver |
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | 35 | P1 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 | Already in F1 |
| Tom Blomqvist | 34 | P7 in Euro F3 2013 P2 in Euro F3 2014 |
|
| Stephane Sarrazin | 34 | P3 in WEC LMP1 2013 P5 in WEC LMP1 2014 P6 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
Did one race for Minardi in 1999 |
| Naoki Yamamoto | 33 | P1 in Super Formula 2013 P9 in Super Formula 2014 P5 in Super Formula 2015 |
|
| Hiroaki Ishiura | 32 | P5 in Super Formula 2014 P1 in Super Formula 2015 |
Beat Lotterer and Nakajima to Super Formula crown |
| Jack Harvey | 31 | P5 in GP3 2013 P2 in Indy Lights 2014 P2 in Indy Lights 2015 |
|
| James Calado | 30 | P3 in GP2 2013 | Force India test driver in 2013 |
| Daniil Kvyat | 30 | P1 in GP3 2013 | Already in F1 |
| Jose Maria Lopez | 30 | P1 in WTCC 2014 P1 in WTCC 2015 |
|
| Mitch Evans | 30 | P4 in GP2 2014 P5 in GP2 2015 |
His 2012 GP3 title would add another 30 points but they expire after three years |
| Simon Pagenaud | 28 | P3 in IndyCar 2013 P5 in IndyCar 2014 |
Surprisingly ended 2015 outside top ten in IndyCar after Penske switch |
| Matthieu Vaxiviere | 28 | P8 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 P2 in Formula Renault 3.5 2015 |
Kept Rowland honest in Formula Renault 3.5 title fight |
| Jack Aitken | 27 | P2 in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 2013 P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2015 P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS 2015 |
Double Formula Renault 2.0 champion this year |
| Luca Ghiotto | 27 | P2 in Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS 2013 P2 in GP3 2015 |
Narrowly lost GP3 title to Ocon |
| Gabby Chaves | 27 | P2 in Indy Lights 2013 P1 in Indy Lights 2014 |
|
| Max Verstappen | 27 | P1 in CIK-FIA KZ 2013 P3 in CIK-FIA KF 2013 P3 in Euro F3 2014 |
Already in F1 |
| Dean Stoneman | 27 | P2 in GP3 2014 P6 in Formula Renault 3.5 2015 |
Red Bull junior driver, win-less this year |
| Tio Ellinas | 25 | P4 in GP3 2013 P4 in Formula Renault 3.5 2015 |
|
| Jake Dennis | 25 | P4 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2013 P9 in Euro F3 2014 P3 in Euro F3 2015 |
|
| Mike Rockenfeller | 25 | P1 in DTM 2013 P3 in DTM 2014 |
|
| Alexander Wurz | 24 | P4 in WEC LMP1 2013 P5 in WEC LMP1 2014 P6 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
Retired at end of season |
| Mattias Ekstrom | 24 | P7 in DTM 2013 P2 in DTM 2014 P3 in DTM 2015 |
|
| Louis Deletraz | 24 | P2 in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 2014 P2 in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup 2015 P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 2015 |
Son of former F1 driver Jean-Denis Deletraz |
| Antonio Fuoco | 23 | P1 in Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS 2013 P5 in Euro F3 2014 P6 in GP3 2015 |
Ferrari Driver Academy member |
| Lucas di Grassi | 22 | P9 in WEC LMP1 2013 P4 in WEC LMP1 2014 P4 in WEC LMP1 2015 |
Raced for Virgin |
| Will Stevens | 22 | P4 in Formula Renault 3.5 2013 P6 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 |
Already in F1 |
| Emil Bernstorff | 22 | P3 in German F3 2013 P5 in GP3 2014 P4 in GP3 2015 |
|
| Lucas Auer | 20 | P4 in Euro F3 2013 P4 in Euro F3 2014 |
|
| Jordan King | 20 | P6 in Euro F3 2013 P1 in British F3 2013 P7 in Euro F3 2014 |
Manor test driver |
| Facu Regalia | 20 | P2 in GP3 2013 | |
| Antonio Felix da Costa | 20 | P3 in Formula Renault 3.5 2013 | |
| Gabriele Tarquini | 20 | P2 in WTCC 2013 P6 in WTCC 2014 P5 in WTCC 2015 |
|
| Charles Leclerc | 20 | P2 in CIK-FIA KZ 2013 P2 in Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS 2014 P4 in Euro F3 2015 |
Top rookie in European F3 this year |
| Roberto Merhi | 20 | P3 in Formula Renault 3.5 2014 | Already in F1 |
| Lance Stroll | 20 | P1 in Italian F4 2014 P5 in Euro F3 2015 |
Williams junior driver, formerly Ferrari Driver Academy member |
| Sebastien Loeb | 20 | P3 in WTCC 2014 P3 in WTCC 2015 |
|
| Rio Haryanto | 20 | P4 in GP2 2015 | Manor test driver |
Other notable names and their scores
- Pascal Wehrlein, 16 points – Mercedes junior driver won the DTM title this year and tested for Prema’s new GP2 team this week
- Nobuharu Matsushita, 14 points – Last year’s Japanese F3 champion made a promising start to his GP2 career and has Honda behind him. He was quickest on the final day of GP2 testing last year
- Guan Yu Zhou, 10 points – The Chinese member of Ferrari’s Driver Academy finished second in Italian F4 this year
- Jehan Daruvala, 3 points – The winner of Force India’s One from a Billion contest to find a new Indian racing star had his first season in cars this year and had some impressive results as well as a big crash at Silverstone
How drivers can qualify for an F1 superlicence
The FIA’s International Sporting Code sets down the rules for how drivers can earn points to obtain an F1 licence. From this year drivers must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid road driving licence. They must also satisfy one of the following:
- Have accumulated at least 40 points during the three-year period preceding his application (see here for how many points each championship awards)
- Have been granted a superlicence (excluding free practice only superlicence) in any of the previous three seasons.
- Have been granted a superlicence prior to the previous 3 seasons (excluding free practice only superlicence). In this case, the driver must be judged by the FIA to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars.
- Have finished first in the FIA Formula E Championship of the previous year.
Not all championships which award points which count towards an F1 superlicence have concluded so although the top scorers can be calculated a full list of points-scorers is not available at present.
Over to you
At the time of writing, only Manor officially has places available in their 2016 squad. However since taking over the Lotus team Renault’s CEO has indicated their driver line-up may not be fixed.
Which of these drivers do you think deserves a place on the grid next year? And is the points system blocking any potential drivers who are ready for F1?
Have your say in the comments.
2016 F1 season
- Alonso: Missing Q3 ‘massively frustrating’
- Vettel rues mistakes after qualifying gamble
- Three-place grid penalty for Hulkenberg after wheel mishap
- Ricciardo surprised by ‘awesome’ front row start
- Hamilton to give ‘everything I’ve got’ from last