The road from IndyCar to F1 has always felt uneven, as drivers with high speeds and strong racecraft often found themselves boxed in by the FIA’s strict superlicence rules. That picture is finally shifting as the FIA has approved a brand-new superlicence points structure for IndyCar starting in 2026, which is the most significant adjustment the series has received in years.
This update gives the sport’s drivers something they have been waiting for years: a smoother and faster route to F1 without making the whole system feel unfair.
Understanding IndyCar’s Place in the F1 Ladder
IndyCar stands as North America’s premier open-wheel championship, defined by its unique blend of blistering ovals, technical street courses, and traditional road racing. The cars are physically punishing, the competition is fierce, and the drivers are world-class talent. Although not designed as a feeder series, IndyCar’s depth and prestige have long positioned it as a step below Formula 1.
For years, IndyCar drivers felt shortchanged when it came to FIA’s superlicence points, as the system required drivers to collect 40 points across three seasons to qualify for F1. Even if the IndyCar champion earned the full 40 points, the old structure offered very little support to the rest of the top ten.
That point structure famously kept Colton Herta out of a potential AlphaTauri move in 2023, despite winning races and finishing strongly in the standings, and he ultimately earned only 32 points. However, under the new system, he would have earned 48 points and easily cleared the threshold of 40.
IndyCar’s New Points System
Beginning in 2026, the IndyCar top ten will receive 40-30-25-20-15-10-8-6-3-1 points, replacing the old 40-30-20-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 model. The shift may look small on paper, but its impact is significant for midfield drivers, who will finally have a realistic chance of collecting the points needed for a super licence.
The structure now places IndyCar comfortably between F2 and F3 in the FIA’s points system, also acknowledging the uniqueness of the American series without forcing it to be a traditional junior role. F2 still sits at the top with a perfect run of 40 points for the top three, but IndyCar now stands clearly as the second most valuable championship for accumulating superlicence points.
Interestingly, even if the changes were applied previously, only four drivers from the last three seasons would have cleared the 40-point mark. Those drivers are Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Pato O’Ward, Scott McLaughlin, and Herta, being the closest outsider, would still fall short by one point.
The updated system solves one major issue, but it does not entirely resolve the path for drivers stuck in weaker IndyCar teams. Since the FIA uses championship results as the sole metric, talented drivers in uncompetitive cars still face a steep climb. Recent examples include Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman, who arrived in IndyCar with strong F2 resumes yet scored no superlicence points at all.
Similar complications affect Formula E, sports cars, and Japan’s Super Formula, where it remains difficult for a driver to qualify for F1 on merit alone if their team cannot consistently reach the front.
The FIA confirmed the change during its final World Motor Sport Council meeting of the year, along with specific updates to the test session that will start in 2027. The updated system may not be perfect, but it gives the sport’s drivers a more precise shot at chasing an F1 dream and is definitely a welcome step.