An error in the 2025 IndyCar championship classification has disrupted Colton Herta's FIA Super Licence points tally, leaving the American driver without a validated Super Licence following Free Practice 1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix. While Cadillac believed its driver was eligible for the Super Licence at the conclusion of opening practice in Mexico, the FIA identified an anomaly that placed his points total into question.
Holding a Super Licence is essential for any driver seeking to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Issued by the FIA, the licence is governed by precise sporting criteria, requiring competitors to amass at least 40 points over a three-year reference period. Meeting this benchmark has been a persistent challenge across multiple seasons for Herta, an American former IndyCar driver who was previously evaluated by Red Bull for an AlphaTauri seat in 2023 before an insufficient points total prevented that switch into Formula 1. His current path with Cadillac forms part of that continued effort to reach the pinnacle of motorsport, with the American team, which is preparing its future in Formula 1, assisting him in gathering the necessary points. His IndyCar achievements form a significant share of that tally, including a runner-up finish in the 2024 championship that yielded 30 points.
The issue stems from the final classification of the 2025 IndyCar championship, in which Herta and Felix Rosenqvist concluded the season tied on points. In an initial calculation conducted in July, Herta was shown in sixth position, allowing him to benefit from an additional point in his Super Licence calculation. However, following a re-examination of the results, IndyCar amended its classification. The tiebreak between the two drivers placed Rosenqvist ahead of Herta, demoting the American racer down the order. That outcome altered his allocation, leaving Herta with four Super Licence points for the 2025 season rather than the six initially retained.
Following the revision of his standing, Herta's three-year Super Licence total reaches 39 of the 40 required points. His verified record consists of one point earned in IndyCar in 2023, 30 points from his runner-up championship finish in 2024, four points from his 2025 campaign, and four points secured across 2026 through his appearances in Free Practice 1 sessions with Cadillac at Barcelona, Austria, the United States, and Mexico. Participating in opening practice in Mexico was therefore insufficient to achieve the regulatory benchmark. Addressing the confusion surrounding Herta's 2025 standing, IndyCar explained that an anomaly in the website database display had been detected that week and corrected to reflect the ranking published on August 31, 2025.
The underlying eligibility requirements are explained in our FIA Super Licence guide.
Sources: Erreur de calcul de points, Herta n'a pas sa Super Licence.
