FIA now set to tweak F1 rule Red Bull driver Max Verstappen calls ‘absurd’

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Max Verstappen faces having to pay a record entrance fee to the FIA for the Red Bull driver to get his 2024 super licence after a dominant Formula 1 title-winning season.

That is according to Speedcafe, which claims that the FIA is set to tweak its requirements for a super licence. The changes will see Verstappen become the first F1 driver to ever pay over €1m (£870k) for their licence. It is mandatory to hold the super licence to race in Formula 1.

Drivers must pay the FIA a base rate for a super licence plus a surcharge fixed on their points achieved across the previous season. Those racing in 2023 paid the sport’s governing body a flat €10,400 (£9k) plus €2,100 (£1.8k) for every point scored. But the figures are set to rise.

Verstappen faces paying a record fee for his FIA 2024 super licence

The FIA is expected to increase the figures by the same 7% that it raised the entrance fee for all teams. It used the United States Consumer Price Index to raise the figure for 2024 for the constructors. So, the 20 drivers face a flat rate of €11.1k (£9.6k) plus €2.2k (£1.9K) per point.

Any change to the fees for a super licence will affect Verstappen the most given the Red Bull driver’s dominance. He has scored 524 points so far this season and can potentially get 576 in total. There are a maximum of 52 points on offer over the final two rounds of the season.

Verstappen already paid the FIA the most to gain his super licence in 2023 after winning the 2022 F1 title. Red Bull forked out €963,800 (£838.7k) to cover his entrance after taking 454 points. Based on his current 524 points total, his 2024 licence will cost €1,188,556 (£1.03m).

Leclerc and Russell may save the most among the 2023 F1 grid

Red Bull covered the cost of Verstappen’s 2023 superlicence due to a clause in the 26-year-old’s contract. But the amount the Dutchman owed the FIA was already beyond what he felt was acceptable. “I find the sum absurd,” Verstappen said, via Motorsport-Total, in February.

The Milton Keynes team may also be responsible for paying the second-highest entrance fee in 2024 for Sergio Perez. His 258 points so far this year put the price of the Mexican’s super licence at €590,854 (£514.3k). The Mexican took 305 points in 2022 for €650.9k (£566.6k).

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell may see the costs of their super licences creep down in 2024. Based on their respective current points tallies of 170 and 156, they will save €264,082 (£229.8k) and €226,240 (£196.9) after their 308 and 275 last year.