The FIA Super License system prioritises speed over safety, and something needs to change. The news currently circulating about Andretti entering Formula 1, attached to Sauber, has been inseparable from Colton Herta, IndyCar rising star, and a possible entry from the 21-year-old American to Europe. By all accounts he is a driver of exceptional talent and skill who, after a few seasons in IndyCar, is touted as a future champion . Additionally, he has one Daytona 24 Hour win under his belt and numerous endurance entries to boot. So why is his entry into Formula 1 not guaranteed? He doesn’t have enough Super Licence points to qualify. The plight of Herta, I believe, is indicative of the inconsistencies of the Super Licence system itself. Drivers are given points based on finishing position in whatever championship and must accrue at least 40 during their early career to be allowed a seat in Formula 1. Additional points can be given for driving in free practice sessions, but only one point per 100km and to a maximum of 10. Herta would need to wait an extra season with, effectively, eight free practice sessions ahead (which may not be possible if he continues in IndyCar) to get a seat this way. His single entries, even with high finishing positions, in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship don’t help. What should be the purpose of the Super License? Of course, a license implies that a driver must be experienced enough to compete in Formula 1, which is the fastest of the Formula categories in the world. But does finishing well in a championship always correspond to adequate experience? I believe not. Nikita Mazepin and, to some extent, Mick Schumacher have proven this season that driving in Formula 1 in a weak car is not a simple task. In a lot of cases, Mazepin’s erratic style in free practice has been downright dangerous. And yet, due to his 2nd place finish in GP3, 3rd place finish in F3 Asia and finally a 5th place finish in Formula 2 2020, he is considered to be more qualified to drive in Formula 1 than Colton Herta, someone at the pinnacle of US open wheelers. The thought is made worse knowing that Mazepin was also criticised, during his Formula 2 run, for being erratic on track. So, what ought to change?
I think its clear to anyone that luck plays a part in most, if not all, motor-racing championships. When most of the super licence points given out require a high finishing place, and not total experience in cars (let alone a Formula 1), there seems to be an inconsistency. Would it not make more sense to give out more Super Licence points for Formula 1 testing, as opposed to too many for driving in junior championships? After all, as Tsunoda has also proven this season, driving well in a junior championship does not equal safe and consistent driving in Formula 1. Moreover, shouldn’t more points be given for total experience in a category? A driver could easily win Formula 3 and another junior championship and jump straight into a Formula 1 without any experience, while another driver with mediocre performance in Formula 2 for three or four years but generating plenty of race experience in faster open wheelers, could not. Lance Stroll skipped Formula 2 and, despite being quick, clearly showed a costly lack of experience in his first few Formula 1 seasons.
Now I’ll be the first to admit, this solution would also rule Herta out from Formula One as well. But to my mind, this is only because IndyCar is not rated as highly as Formula 2. Perhaps it ought to be too? Many, such as Pato O’Ward, conclude that IndyCar is as hard to drive as any other racing series. Perhaps that experience is even more valuable in Formula 1. Car control, rather than race finish, should be the reason for Super License points. A driver could take out a rival in every race in Formula 2, even by accident, but if they still finished with good consistency they’d be handed a Super License. And this is before we start to discuss how IndyCar’s racing is far more dangerous and thus requires more skill and control to even get out in one piece. Colton Herta should be in Formula 1. He would be a refreshing young entry with plenty of skill and tenacity but most importantly experience, to give something new to our European racing. We’re exporting plenty of drivers to the US, but apparently not the other way around. Perhaps the reason for this lay at the heart of the Super License issue – maybe it’s wrong to believe IndyCar is a graveyard for former F1 drivers. Perhaps it too, should be a proving ground. Either way, the Super License system needs a change; if not to allow good drivers, like Herta, to enter, but also to stop quick yet inexperienced or unsafe drivers from causing accidents… or worse.