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Herta's **40 superlicence points** remove the regulatory barrier to an Andretti F1 seat, clearing the path for the American driver in any 2026-or-later entry.
100 kilometres
in Mexico Grand Prix first practice and quietly crossed…
40-point
superlicence threshold required for an F1 race seat
300-kilometre
requirement for superlicence point eligibility
2022 third-place IndyCar finish
awards him the full
Colton Herta logged over 100 kilometres in Mexico Grand Prix first practice and quietly crossed the 40-point superlicence threshold required for an F1 race seat, removing the technical obstacle that derailed Andretti's attempt to place him at AlphaTauri in 2023.
The confusion centered on how the FIA counts practice sessions toward the 300-kilometre requirement for superlicence point eligibility. Herta's previous F1 running—scattered Friday drives with McLaren—had been tallied inconsistently across seasons, leaving his 2022 IndyCar championship points in bureaucratic limbo. Mexico clarified the math: his practice mileage now satisfies the FIA threshold, his 2022 third-place IndyCar finish awards him the full 30 points from that season, and combined with prior years he sits at 40 total. The minimum for an F1 seat is 40.
This matters because Andretti Global has an F1 entry application pending with the FIA and Liberty Media, with General Motors backing and a target grid slot for 2026 or later. Michael Andretti has publicly said Herta would be the American driver in an Andretti-Cadillac lineup. The superlicence question was the only regulatory gap in that plan. It is now closed. Separately, the 2023 saga—when Red Bull wanted to move Herta to AlphaTauri and the FIA denied a superlicence exemption—created tension between the Andretti organization and the governing body. That tension has not dissolved, but the rule is no longer the issue.
Sponsor and commercial partners sizing Andretti's F1 bid have been watching Herta's eligibility closely. An American driver in an American-branded team multiplies domestic media value, particularly for brands targeting the 18-to-34 demographic that Liberty Media has successfully cultivated in the US market. Herta's California roots and clean media profile fit that positioning. The superlicence uncertainty introduced execution risk into any sponsorship model that priced in his presence. That risk is gone.
Watch for Andretti to increase Herta's F1 practice appearances before the end of the 2025 season, likely with Mercedes power units if their technical partnership advances as expected. The 300-kilometre practice requirement resets annually, so maintaining eligibility requires continued seat time. Separately, the FIA is expected to rule on Andretti's formal grid application by mid-2025, with commercial terms and constructor homologation timelines following if approved. Herta's current Andretti Autosport IndyCar contract runs through 2025 with team options for 2026.
The 40-point threshold is the floor, not the ceiling. Herta's 2024 IndyCar season is underway, and a top-three finish would add another 30 points, giving him margin against rule changes or point decay clauses in future FIA superlicence revisions.
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