The chances of an IndyCar driver switching to Formula 1 have increased after the FIA boosted IndyCar’s superlicence points allocation from 2026.
Any prospective F1 driver needs to pass the 40-point threshold of points accumulated in other series before they can be granted the necessary superlicence.
This is an obstacle that Cadillac’s F1 test driver Colton Herta came up against when trying to make the switch from IndyCar to F1 with Red Bull's second team. That fell through because he didn't have the necessary points and wasn't granted an exemption.
These changes won’t affect Herta's latest bid to get on the grid with Cadillac, as he’s left IndyCar to pursue Formula 2 (which offers 40 points to its top three finishers), but it will help any IndyCar drivers trying to make the switch in the future.
Previously, only the top four in IndyCar would receive above 10 points (a quarter of the way towards the 40-point threshold), fewer than junior series like Formula 3. IndyCar's paltry allocation - given the competitiveness of the championship and strength of the CVs of even drivers who finish outside the top 10, has been criticised by the likes of McLaren F1 reserve driver/IndyCar race winner Pato O'Ward.
But now the FIA’s upped the points distributed to third-to-ninth in the IndyCar standings, meaning now the top six will receive double digits.
It's done this "to reflect the growing significance of the category".
The champion (40 points) and runner-up (30 points) totals remain the same, but now third place will receive 25 rather than 20 points, fourth will get 20 not 10, fifth will receive 15 not eight, and sixth will get 10 rather than six.
There are small boosts for those drivers who finish seventh, eighth and ninth too, with 10th place still receiving one point - no points are awarded to those who finish outside the top 10 in the IndyCar standings.
That new points system is applied from January 1 2026 onwards, so drivers’ 2023-25 results will still be calculated using the old points distribution.
Those changes were confirmed during the final FIA World Motorsport Council meeting of the year, including several minor F1 changes.
The sporting changes included pre-season testing returning to a single test from 2027 onwards (with three pre-season tests planned for 2026) and the option for FP1 during sprint weekends to be extended if there’s a red flag.
