Key takeaways
- Wikipedia describes karting as widely used as an early development category, and Formula 4 as the first step out of karting on the FIA Global Pathway, followed by Formula Regional, Formula 3 and Formula 2.
- To race in F1, a driver needs an FIA Super Licence, requiring at least 40 points over the previous three seasons from eligible championships.
- Points depend on championship position and series: winning F2 is worth 40, F3 30, Formula Regional European 25 and an FIA-certified F4 series 12.
- The minimum age is 18 at the start of a driver's first F1 event, with exceptions possible at 17; a road driving licence is no longer required.
- Drivers must also have completed at least 80% of two full seasons in eligible championships.
The FIA, motorsport's governing body, has built a ladder of single-seater championships, the FIA Global Pathway, that leads towards Formula 1, and the final step needs a licence earned with points. The 2026 F1 regulations (Section A, Issue 03) require every F1 driver to hold a valid Super Licence under the International Sporting Code and its Appendix L. This guide explains the route and the rules, drawing on Wikipedia's articles on karting, Formula 4 and the FIA Super Licence.
Where it starts: karting
Wikipedia notes that karting is practised both recreationally and competitively, that it is widely used as an early development category for drivers moving into higher levels of car racing, and that international karting is governed by the FIA through FIA Karting, with national bodies running domestic racing. The FIA's single-seater ladder is designed to follow it: Wikipedia describes Formula 4 as "the first step out of karting". The fundamentals carry straight over, starting with the racing line, which the racing line explained covers.
The FIA Global Pathway
After karting, the single-seater ladder in Wikipedia's articles runs:
| Step | Category | Role on the ladder |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Formula 4 | Wikipedia calls it the first step out of karting on the FIA Global Pathway, with the least performance of any car on it |
| 2 | Formula Regional | The tier above F4, run as regional championships such as the Formula Regional European Championship |
| 3 | Formula 3 | The FIA Formula 3 Championship |
| 4 | Formula 2 | The FIA Formula 2 Championship, the last step before F1 |
| 5 | Formula 1 | Requires an FIA Super Licence |
Wikipedia records that Formula 4 was created in response to declining interest in national Formula 3 championships, as rising costs and alternative routes had seen several discontinued.
The Super Licence
To race in F1, a driver needs an FIA Super Licence. Wikipedia summarises the requirements, set out in Appendix L of the FIA's International Sporting Code:
- Age: at least 18 at the start of the first F1 competition, or 17 in exceptional circumstances at the FIA's discretion.
- Points: at least 40 Super Licence points over the previous three seasons, from eligible championships.
- Experience: at least 80% of each of two full seasons of eligible championships completed.
- Road licence: no longer required since a June 2024 change.
Wikipedia also records an amendment made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, under which a driver with at least 30 points who could not reach 40 because of circumstances outside their control could be granted a licence at the FIA's discretion.
How many points each series gives
Super Licence points depend on a driver's final championship position. From Wikipedia's table of the main single-seater series, which it gives as current as of March 2026:
| Championship position | F2 | F3 | Formula Regional European | FIA Formula 4 championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 40 | 30 | 25 | 12 |
| 2nd | 40 | 25 | 20 | 10 |
| 3rd | 40 | 20 | 15 | 7 |
| 4th | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 5th | 20 | 12 | 7 | 3 |
| 6th | 10 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
A top-three finish in F2 is enough on its own. Otherwise, a driver builds the total over three seasons.
A worked example. A driver finishes 3rd in Formula Regional European (15 points), then 4th in F3 (15 points), then 6th in F2 (10 points). That is 15 + 15 + 10 = 40 points over three seasons, enough to meet the points requirement, provided the other conditions are met. Finishing 7th in F2 instead, worth 8 points, would leave the driver on 38, short.
A series must meet minimum standards to award points: Wikipedia notes a championship season needs at least five events at three or more different circuits.
The practice-only licence
There is also an intermediate step. Wikipedia notes that since the 2019 season, drivers taking part only in F1 free practice sessions need a separate Free Practice Only Super Licence. Its first-time requirements include:
- a minimum age of 18 at the start of the first F1 competition;
- an existing International Grade A competition licence;
- passing an FIA theory test on the F1 sporting codes and regulations;
- either six races in Formula 2, or 25 Super Licence points in eligible championships over the previous three years.
A few extra points are available too. Wikipedia lists 2 points for completing an FIA championship that uses a penalty-points system without receiving any penalty points, and 2, 3 or 5 points for winning the Macau Grand Prix in its F4, Formula Regional or F3 versions. Where several drivers share a car over a season, points are split by FIA driver categorisation: 100% for Platinum and Gold drivers, 75% for Silver, 50% for Bronze and none for uncategorised drivers.
From results to a race seat
Licence points come from championship positions, so the arithmetic of each season matters. Racing points systems explains how race results turn into championship positions in the first place, and how racing qualifying works why one lap on Saturday matters so much.
The climb from karting to the front of the grid is the premise of Car Racing - Pro Career Racer, one of our sports career games, in which you start as an unknown rookie and earn better contracts with stronger results; the game guide explains how.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a Formula 1 driver?
How many Super Licence points do you need?
How old do you have to be to race in F1?
Do F1 drivers need a road driving licence?
Sources
- FIA Super Licence (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Formula 4 (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Kart racing (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- 2026 F1 Regulations, Section A [General Regulatory Provisions], Issue 03 (Licences) (opens in a new tab)Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile — accessed
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