F1 : FIA super licence 'points system' for 2016

Max Verstappen is just 17 years old and doesn't have a normal road car licence

FIA has devised a points system as part of its clampdown on the ease of achieving an F1 super licence

From 2016, F1 drivers will need to be at least 18, hold a valid road driving licence, and have a minimum level of experience and success in minor formula championships.

Only the champion in Euro F3, LPM1 in WEC and IndyCar would obtain the 40 points necessary to qualify for a 2016 super licence, it has emerged.

Verstappen finished a highly-credible third in last year's FIA European F3 championship, that would have earned him only 20 points under the new super licence system devised by the FIA for 2016. 

Verstappen legitimately holds a F1 licence despite not qualifying to drive even a normal road car.

Future GP3 champions, on the other hand, will score only 30 of the 40 points, as will title winners in Formula Renault 3.5, like Verstappen's 2015 Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz jr.

GP2 champions and his title runner-up, however, will score 50 and 40 points respectively, while the highest number of points attainable from 2016, 60 will be in the FIA's relaunched Formula 2 series.

Interestingly, the top three finishers in F2 will all qualify for a 2016 super licence, even though any applicant will need to have spent at least two years in the categories leading into F1.

F1 : Buemi retains reserve driver role at Red Bull

World Endurance Champion Sebastien Buemi will remain the Red Bull Formula 1 team's reserve driver in 2015.

Buemi, 26, started 55 grands prix for Toro Rosso between 2009 until 2011 before resuming reserve driver duties for Red Bull when he and STR team-mate Jaime Alguersuari lost their 

F1 race drives to Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said Buemi had since become an invaluable part of his F1 squad's set-up.

The Swiss dovetailed his 2014 F1 reserve duties with a victorious WEC campaign for Toyota alongside British racer Anthony Davidson, and is also currently contesting the inaugural Formula E championship, in which he lies second for the e.dams squad after the first three races.

Buemi said he was looking forward to helping Red Bull attempt to recover from losing its world champion status to Mercedes this year.

"It is like being part of the family and I have a good working and personal relationship with everyone at the team," he said.

"I'm looking forward to helping with the development of the RB11 in any way I can.

"It should be an exciting season and I'm delighted that I will be a part of it."

Webber escapes a horrific crash in Brazil

Webber in 'satisfactory' condition after a crash in World Endurance Championship race in Brazil.

The Former F1 driver was involved in a 'serious' crash with Matteo Cressoni in Sao Paulo. The 38 year old Australian was racing for Porsche in Six Hours of Sao Paulo event. 

The Australian's Porsche 911 made contact with Matteo Cressoni's Ferrari on the final corner of the six-hour race in Sao Paulo and slammed into a track barrier.

Despite the flames seen in the crash footage and the car wreck, Webber escaped unhurt.

Webber's official facebook page took no time in ensuring that the former F1 driver was not seriously injured and was taken to a hospital for medical checks.


As per Webber's website, the driver remained in a local hospital overnight for precautionary measures.

The race had to end under the safety car which was forced to come no following the accident.

The FIA, motor sports governing body said that : "Both drivers were taken to the circuit's medical centre and, after initial examination, to the local Hospital Bandeirantes for further checks, their condition has been reported as satisfactory."