After clinching his third Formula 1 world drivers’ championship, Max Verstappen is set to face a surprising fee for a superlicense.
According to reports, he will be charged over €1.2 million for the superlicense required to compete in the upcoming year.
This substantial fee is attributed to Verstappen’s outstanding performance in the 2023 season, where he won 19 out of 22 races, leading to an increase in license costs based on the points earned. Fortunately, Verstappen won’t have to cover this hefty fee personally, as he mentioned, “The team pays that, fortunately.”
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen expressed his belief in establishing a reasonable ratio for such fees.
However, he acknowledged that unforeseen factors led to a higher accumulation of points than expected.As the sole team confirming payment of the superlicense fee for Verstappen, Red Bull’s decision raises uncertainty about whether other drivers, including teammate Sergio Perez, will have to cover their own fees.
Verstappen’s record-breaking 575 points in the 2023 season, the highest ever achieved, come at a significant cost for the driver to ensure his participation in the upcoming year. He had previously criticized the “absurd” nature of these expenses, emphasizing that such financial burdens aren’t typical in other sports, especially with the increasing number of races.Fortunately for Red Bull, driver salaries and fees fall outside the FIA’s budget cap, designed to restrict team spending and promote a more equitable competition environment.
Red Bull’s Team Principal, Christian Horner, acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It’s a luxury problem to have because we’ve had to score the points to generate the invoice. Thankfully, it’s outside of the budget cap. But yeah, it’s a big cheque to be writing to the FIA.”
A superlicence, issued by the FIA, is the highest-level license required for any driver aiming to participate in Formula 1. This mandatory license serves as a key prerequisite for F1 competition and is bestowed by the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1.Introduced in the 1990s, the superlicence underwent a significant amendment in 2015, incorporating a minimum age requirement.
This adjustment was made following Max Verstappen’s debut in the same year when he entered F1 at the age of 17 years and 166 days. The FIA implemented this age rule to enhance safety measures and deter potentially inexperienced drivers from participating in Formula 1.
Obtaining a superlicence involves fulfilling several criteria. Eligible drivers must be at least 18 years old when they first enter Formula 1, possess a valid driving licence, and successfully pass an FIA theory test covering the sporting codes and regulations of F1.Even drivers who held a superlicence in the preceding three seasons maintain eligibility to apply for a new one if they intend to return to Formula 1.
This provision allows individuals like Nyck De Vries, who was released from AlphaTauri midway through the 2023 season, to reapply for a superlicence and potentially make a comeback to F1 in the coming years.
The mandatory base cost for a superlicence is €10,400 for every driver, and an additional charge of €2,100 is applied for every point earned in the previous season.For Max Verstappen, who secured 575 points in the 2023 season, the total cost for his 2024 superlicence is a staggering €1,217,900.Here’s the reported breakdown of superlicence costs for other F1 drivers in 2024:
– Sergio Perez: 285 points, €608,900
– Lewis Hamilton: 234 points, €501,800
– Fernando Alonso: 206 points, €443,000
– Charles Leclerc: 206 points, €443,000
– Lando Norris: 205 points, €440,900
– Carlos Sainz: 200 points, €430,400
– George Russell: 175 points, €377,900
– Oscar Piastri: 97 points, €214,100
– Lance Stroll: 74 points, €165,800
– Pierre Gasly: 62 points, €140,600
– Esteban Ocon: 58 points, €132,200
– Alex Albon: 27 points, €67,100
– Yuki Tsunoda: 17 points, €46,100
– Valtteri Bottas: 10 points, €31,400
– Nico Hulkenberg: 9 points, €29,300
– Daniel Ricciardo: 6 points, €23,000
– Zhou Guanyu: 6 points, €23,000
– Kevin Magnussen: 3 points, €16,700
– Liam Lawson: 2 points, €14,600
– Logan Sargeant: 1 point, €12,500.
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