The FIA toughens conditions for participating in free practice sessions
New access rules for the Super License to participate in Friday's free practice sessions have been adopted by the International Automobile Federation, in order to encourage progression through Formula 2.
The drivers wishing to participate in the Free Practice 1 sessions, which take place on Friday mornings at each Grand Prix, will now need to obtain a specific Super License for this exercise. Previously, it was sufficient to have covered 300 km in a so-called representative Formula 1 over two days and to demonstrate knowledge of the sporting regulations by answering a few questions to obtain this precious pass.
The new regulations adopted in this field by the FIA stipulate that to participate in a free practice session, you must now have 25 points on your Super License (40 units are necessary to obtain a standard Super License to compete in an entire Grand Prix) or have participated in at least six events of the Formula 2 championship. The validity of the Free Practice Super License is effective until the end of the current year.
In the event that this same driver wants to obtain the right to participate in a session the following season, they must still have 25 points or this time have participated in a full season in F2 (with the previous year being taken into account). The other unalterable rule to obtain the right to drive in free practice is to be at least 18 years old and hold a driver’s license.
Assuming the rule had been in place last season, it would not have posed any problems for Sergey Sirotkin, George Russell, Sean Gelael, Antonio Giovinazzi, or Charles Leclerc, but it would have prevented Alfonso Celis from taking part with Force India.
The purpose of this rule is clearly to promote progression through F2, which is part of the career ladder set by the FIA to reach F1. More specifically, now to obtain the 40 points required for the Grand Prix Super License, it suffices to have finished in the top three of the Formula 2 championship, whereas previously only the top two were eligible. IndyCar champions are now automatically qualified for the Super License.
The scale concerning the champions and runners-up of Formula 3 Europe, Formula E, and WEC (LMP1 only) has been revised down from 40 points to 30 for the champion and from 30 to 25 for the second. Curiously, the driver ranked second in the LMP1 category in the World Endurance Championship will only receive 24 points.
