The FIA Racing Super Licence was introduced during the 1990s as a gatekeeping mechanism to prevent insufficiently experienced drivers from entering Formula One. The licence existed in a relatively informal form for many years, with eligibility determined largely at the FIA's discretion. In 2015 the framework was substantially overhauled following the debut of Max Verstappen, who had progressed to Formula One at an exceptionally young age. The reformed system introduced a structured points-accumulation requirement and a minimum age rule to provide more objective and transparent eligibility standards.
To obtain a Super Licence for the first time, a driver must hold an International Grade A competition licence, be at least 18 years of age at the start of their first Formula One competition (though the FIA retains discretion to grant a licence at 17 in exceptional circumstances), and pass an FIA theory examination on Formula One sporting codes and regulations.
Beyond the administrative prerequisites, the driver must have completed at least 80 percent of each of two full seasons in championships listed in Supplement 1 of the FIA regulations, and must have accumulated at least 40 Super Licence points across the previous three seasons from those eligible championships. In June 2024, the FIA removed the previously existing requirement for applicants to hold a road-legal driving licence.
Drivers who already hold or have previously held a Super Licence face different renewal criteria. A driver who held a valid Super Licence in any of the previous three seasons may renew by completing at least 100 km in a Formula One Free Practice session within the past three years. A driver who held a licence previously but not within the most recent three years may be granted a renewed licence at the FIA's discretion on the basis of a recent and consistent demonstration of outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars.
A penalty points system operates on the Super Licence across a rolling 12-month period. Drivers accrue points for driving infractions at race events. Accumulation of five reprimands during a season may result in a grid penalty and additional penalty points. Since 2014, reaching a total of 12 penalty points within any 12-month period triggers a mandatory one-race ban. As of 2024, the only race ban enforced through this mechanism was Kevin Magnussen's exclusion from the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
In 2006, Yuji Ide had his Super Licence revoked entirely during the season following a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, after the FIA concluded he lacked sufficient experience for Formula One competition.
The Super Licence carries an annual fee paid by the holder. The fee structure is partly fixed and partly variable, with a per-point component calculated from the driver's championship results in the previous season. The cost structure has risen substantially over time. In 2009, Lewis Hamilton paid £242,000 for his Super Licence. By December 2024, the basic fee stood at approximately €11,453, with the per-point component estimated at €2,313. Max Verstappen paid a reported record of €1,217,900 for his 2024 Super Licence, based on his dominant 2023 championship results.
The nationality displayed on the Super Licence corresponds to the driver's passport, not to the country whose motorsport authority issued the licence. A driver holding a French passport but resident in Germany would receive a licence issued through the German National Sporting Authority, yet the licence would display French nationality. To race under a different national flag, the driver must hold the appropriate passport.
This rule has produced notable errors in official FIA documentation. John Watson was occasionally listed under Irish nationality despite being British. Eddie Irvine, a British citizen who competed under a licence issued by the Irish National Sporting Authority, was listed as Irish on official entry lists across the 1995 and 1996 seasons, leading to the flag of Ireland being raised at his podium appearances during that period.
The nationality rule has not always applied in the same form. In earlier eras, drivers exercised more personal discretion over the national flag under which they competed. Jochen Rindt, born in Germany and without Austrian citizenship, raced throughout his Formula One career under the Austrian flag because he held his licence through the Austrian National Sporting Authority.
Beginning in 2019, a stand-alone Free Practice Only Super Licence was created specifically for drivers participating in Formula One practice sessions without a race entry. This licence is not automatically conferred by holding a full Super Licence. It requires a minimum age of 18, an International Grade A licence, passage of the FIA theory test, and either six Formula 2 race starts or 25 Super Licence points accumulated in eligible championships within the previous three years.