Colton Herta Still One Point Short of an F1 Super Licence After Mexico GP Practice
Despite completing over 100km in Mexico, American star Colton Herta remains one point shy of the 40‑point threshold needed for a full Formula 1 super licence.
American IndyCar talent Colton Herta sparked a wave of speculation after he turned heads in the first free‑practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, completing more than 100 kilometres in a Red Bull‑run car. However, as clarified by Autosport and Motorsport.com, the young driver is still one point short of the 40‑point minimum required for a full Formula 1 super licence.
How the points system works
The FIA super licence points system, introduced in 2016, awards drivers points based on their performance in recognised feeder series over the previous three seasons. A driver must accumulate at least 40 points and also meet a 100‑km test requirement in a current‑year F1 car to be eligible for a full licence.
Herta earned 39 points from his 2023 IndyCar campaign, where he finished third overall and claimed three race victories. The 100‑km test requirement was satisfied during his 2024 Mexico GP practice stint, where he logged just over 100 kilometres in a Red Bull RB19. Yet, without that missing point, the FIA cannot grant him a full super licence.
Why the confusion arose
The confusion stemmed from the visual of Herta completing the mileage benchmark, leading many fans and media outlets to assume the licence hurdle was cleared. In reality, the points tally is a separate criterion that cannot be compensated by mileage alone. The FIA’s regulations state that both conditions – the points threshold and the 100‑km test – must be met independently.
Both Autosport and Motorsport.com note that Herta could still secure the missing point by competing in a FIA‑approved series that awards super licence points, such as Formula 2 or the World Endurance Championship, before the start of the 2025 season.
For Indian fans
The Mexico GP practice session was broadcast live on FanCode with commentary in English and Hindi, starting at 02:00 IST. Indian viewers who followed Herta’s run can now understand why the excitement did not translate into an immediate F1 entry. Should Herta manage to gather the extra point, his potential debut would be a major talking point for the Indian audience, especially given the growing interest in American drivers among Indian F1 fans.
Source: Autosport