How to qualify in Motorsport
How a driver qualifies to race in Formula 1
Formula 1 has no qualifying tournament: a team picks its drivers. But a driver can only race if they hold an FIA Super Licence, and that has to be earned.
The main conditions:
- at least 18 at the start of their first F1 event (17 in exceptional cases, at the FIA's discretion);
- an International Grade A competition licence;
- a pass in an FIA theory test on F1's rules;
- at least 80% of each of two full seasons in championships on the FIA's list;
- at least 40 Super Licence points over the previous three seasons, from championships on that list.
Points come from where a driver finishes in a championship. Winning Formula 2 or the IndyCar Series gives 40 on its own; the top three in Formula 2 all get 40.
Points for championship places (examples, as of March 2026)
| Series | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIA Formula 2 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| IndyCar (from 2026) | 40 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| IndyCar (before 2026) | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| FIA Formula 3 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Formula E, the World Endurance Championship (Hypercar) and Japan's Super Formula also give 30 to their champions; smaller series, down to FIA-certified Formula 4 championships, give fewer. A driver can also earn 1 point for each F1 free practice session in which they drive at least 100 km, up to 10.
A series only awards points if its season has at least five events on at least three circuits. If fewer than 16 drivers start, its points drop by 10% for each driver missing.
Worked example
Made up to show the arithmetic. A driver finishes 5th in Formula 3 (12 points), then 4th in Formula 2 the next year (30), and drives two F1 practice sessions (2). Over three seasons: 12 + 30 + 2 = 44, enough.
Other rules
- A driver who held a Super Licence in any of the last three seasons can get a new one by driving 100 km in a practice session in the last three years.
- A former holder out for longer can be granted one if the FIA sees "recent and consistent" outstanding ability.
- A separate Free Practice Only licence (six Formula 2 races, or 25 points) lets a driver run in practice sessions.
- Licences are yearly, with a 12-month probation after the first issue.
India and the points table
FIA-certified Formula 4 India was listed in the points table for 2023 at full value (with conditions on the number of events and track layouts).