The FIA has increased the variety of super license points awarded to Super Formula for 2025, bringing it roughly according to Formula E and the Hypercar class within the Endurance World Championship.
So far, the Japanese single-seater series champion has scored 25 points, putting him on par with Alpine's European Formula Regional Championship, with 20 and 15 points going to the second and third drivers respectively.
However, under the most recent version of the FIA International Sporting Code, the Super Formula allocation for 2025 has been increased – the winner now receives 30 points, the second-place driver 25 and the third-place driver 20.
This matches each Formula E and FIA Formula 3, with only Formula 2 and IndyCar awarding more points, while being roughly comparable to the highest WEC class, which awards 30 points to champions and 24 points for second place.
The full allocation for the highest 10 drivers within the championship is currently 30-25-20-15-12-9-7-5-3-2, which closely mirrors the size utilized in FIA F3.
In a press release sent to Motorsport.com, an FIA spokesman cited the “evolution” of Super Formula in recent seasons as a proof for the change.
“The allocation of FIA Super License points is regularly reviewed as the single-seater pyramid changes and develops over time,” the statement read.
“During the last meeting of the Super License Working Group, an update of the points awarded to the Japanese Super Formula was approved for implementation from 2025.
Liam Lawson, TEAM MUGEN
Photo: Masahide Kamio
“This update reflects the evolution of the series as one of the fastest single-seater competitions outside the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, with the Working Group noting that there have been several recent examples of drivers competing in Super Formula moving into Formula 1 and other FIA World Championship categories.”
The reference to drivers aspiring to race in F1 is probably going a nod to current RB driver Liam Lawson, who finished second in Super Formula last 12 months behind Ritomo Miyata.
Ryo Hirakawa and Sacha Fenestraz are two other recent examples of Super Formula graduates who’ve raced within the FIA, WEC and Formula E world championship categories respectively.
Another factor which will have influenced the choice to extend the variety of super license points is the variety of races, which can increase to 12 from the present nine as all bars two of seven rounds will grow to be double-headers.
Series organizer JRP has outlined plans to further increase this number in future years, with a mean goal of 20 races over 10 race weekends.
Current Super Formula points leader Sho Tsuboi has already reached the 40-point threshold required to acquire a brilliant license due to his Super GT title successes in 2021 and 2023.
If he wins the title this weekend at Suzuka, he’ll remain on 40 points because the 20 points earned for the 2021 GT500 title will expire after this season.
Sho Tsuboi, TOM VANTELIN'S BAND
Photo: Masahide Kamio
Of the remaining title contenders, second-placed Tadasuke Makino currently has 27 points, but will lose 10 of those points after this 12 months, meaning he’ll only be eligible to assert the super license if he becomes champion this weekend.
However, under the 2025 system, a further five points could be enough to get him over the 40-point threshold, even when he finished second.
Tomoki Nojiri and Ayumu Iwasa each scored 40 points; Nojiri from his previous successes in Super Formula, during which he became champion in 2021 and 2022, and Iwasa from his appearances in Formula 2 in 2022-2023.
