Verstappen makes F1 history with most expensive super licence ever

Max Verstappen is about to become the first Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport to have to fork out more than a million euros for his FIA super licence.

Verstappen captured his third F1 world title in the sprint race before the Qatar Grand Prix and also has a record number of World Championship points to his name: he has already scored 524 points in the 2023 season. With two GPs to go, that is already a much higher number than he achieved last year. Then, too, Verstappen broke a record with a points total of 454 in a season, which, at €963,800, already brought him close to the 'magic' limit of one million euros.

Verstappen makes F1 history again

A fixed base fee of €10,400 for the FIA super licence is charged. On top of that, 2,100 euros are added per World Championship point scored. Based on the current point total Verstappen has to his name, his super licence for next year is already worth €1,188,556.

That amount is expected to rise further after the season's final two races. If the Dutchman scores maximum points in both the Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi GPs (victory and fastest lap), another 109,200 euros will be added to the cost of the Red Bull Racing driver's superlicence.

However, the amount could just get even higher. The exact fees for the 2024 F1 season are not yet known, but team participation fees have increased by seven per cent. Therefore, it is expected that superlicence fees will also rise ahead of the new season, meaning Verstappen may have to pay even more for his 2024 superlicence.