The confusion surrounding Colton Herta's F1 superlicence explained

After completing more than 100 kilometres during the first free practice session at the Mexico Grand Prix, Colton Herta appeared to have 40 superlicence points to his name, which would be enough to qualify for the document required to secure a Formula 1 seat.

The reality, however, has proved far more complicated than that. According to the FIA, Herta is currently still one point short.

Confusion surrounding IndyCar’s 2025 season

First, back to basics. There are two ways to accumulate the required 40 points from other championships. The FIA can either look at all the points accumulated over the previous three calendar years or consider all the points earned over the previous two years plus the current season.

“The driver must have accumulated at least 40 points. The FIA will consider the number of points accumulated in either (i) the three-calendar year period immediately preceding the year of the date of the application, or (ii) the two-calendar year period immediately preceding the year of the date of the application in addition to points accumulated in the calendar year of the application, whichever is higher”, the FIA's International Sporting Code states.

In Herta's case, it appears to be the former option: the previous three years plus the F1 practice sessions he has completed during the current season, as those are not tied to a specific year. The American has brought 35 points with him from IndyCar – more on that later – and earned another four through his F1 free practice appearances.

There has been considerable confusion in the Mexico paddock over those IndyCar points in particular, and whether the total should be 35 or 36. One of those points dates back to the 2023 IndyCar season; 30 come from the 2024 season, when he finished runner-up; the remaining confusion relates to 2025.

Anyone looking up the results of the 2025 IndyCar season online, for example on Herta's Wikipedia page, will see him listed in seventh place, which would be worth just four superlicence points. Herta finished that season level on points with Felix Rosenqvist.

Colton Herta, Andretti Global

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

Initially – when the FIA conducted its investigation in July – Herta was listed sixth in the IndyCar standings, which would earn him six points. With those six points, he would now have reached 41 points, comfortably exceeding the required 40 – which was also the widespread belief in the paddock immediately after the first practice session.

However, that proved incorrect. The FIA subsequently informed Autosport that, following further investigation, Herta has definitively been classified seventh in the 2025 IndyCar season, meaning that, as things stand, he has only 39 points and does not yet qualify for a superlicence.

This means Herta needs one more F1 practice session to meet the requirements, for which Cadillac could use the upcoming Sao Paulo Grand Prix or the next F1 weekend on American soil in Las Vegas. Cadillac has already expressed its intention to give its protege more free practice outings, meaning he will meet the superlicence requirements in any case, but, according to the FIA, he has not yet done so in Mexico.

How long is the superlicence valid, and what does this mean for Cadillac?

An equally interesting question is exactly how long Herta's superlicence will remain valid once it can officially be applied for and issued by the FIA.

Strictly speaking, a superlicence is only valid for one year, which might suggest that it is now or never for Herta's potential F1 opportunity, and that it has to happen in 2027. This is linked to the 30 superlicence points from the 2024 IndyCar season, which might expire after 2027.

However, when Autosport put the matter to the FIA, the reality proved somewhat more complex than that as well – and somewhat more favourable for Herta. Yes, the superlicence itself is only valid for one year, but applying for it also provides a three-year safety net.

This safety net is linked to Article 13.1.5 b of the International Sporting Code, which states that the following is also sufficient to obtain another superlicence:

“The driver must also satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

“b) Have been granted a Super Licence (excluding Free Practice Only Super Licence) and, prior to application, have previously completed at least 100 km during a free practice session of an FIA Formula One World Championship competition, in any of the previous 3 years.”

Colton Herta, Hitech

Photo by: Getty Images

In concrete terms, this means that once a driver has obtained a superlicence and it expires after a year, they fall into the category of 'previous licence holders'.

Those 'previous licence holders' can apply for another superlicence without having to meet the 40-point requirement again, provided they have completed at least 100 kilometres during an F1 free practice session.

This effectively means that, after applying for Herta's superlicence, Cadillac will have a three-year window in which to give him an F1 opportunity, if that is what the American team intends to do. If that opportunity does not come immediately in 2027, Herta's 30 IndyCar points will indeed expire in the future, but he can regain the superlicence in the following years with just one free practice session – without having to worry about the 40 points again.

Formally, Cadillac still has to confirm its driver line-up for 2027. Sergio Pérez's contract was renegotiated and extended until at least 2029 ahead of his home race in Mexico, but in Austin, Marcin Budkowski refused to answer a very simple question from the F1 presenter with a 'yes'.

The team principal was asked whether both drivers had contracts extending beyond the current season, but Budkowski avoided the question by saying that the FIA press conference was not the place to discuss it.

He thereby left the door open for a possible driver change ahead of the 2027 F1 season. Valtteri Bottas subsequently told Autosport, when asked, that he was not yet concerned about potentially losing his F1 seat.