Lando Norris has publicly supported Colton Herta and the IndyCar series in contesting the FIA’s Super Licence points allocation, which affects drivers seeking entry into Formula 1. The controversy centers on the fact that the FIA awards fewer points to drivers competing in non-FIA championship series such as IndyCar, compared to those racing in FIA-governed junior categories like Formula 2. This discrepancy impacts the ability of successful IndyCar drivers, including Herta, to qualify for F1 seats despite their strong performances.
For example, the top three drivers in the IndyCar championship earn 40, 30, and 20 Super Licence points respectively, while the top three finishers in Formula 2 all receive 40 points, a threshold necessary to secure a Super Licence required for an F1 seat. Although Herta is among IndyCar’s leading drivers, he has been unable to accumulate the 40 points over any three-year span, preventing him from qualifying directly for Formula 1 through his race results in IndyCar.
Colton Herta’s Struggle to Secure Super Licence Directly from IndyCar Success
To pursue his ambition of reaching Formula 1, Colton Herta is set to leave IndyCar after the 2025 season to join Cadillac F1, a sister team to Andretti Global, as a test driver. However, despite his high level of competition in IndyCar, Herta will still be required to race in Formula 2 in 2026 to earn sufficient Super Licence points, a series often considered to have a lower competitive standard compared to IndyCar.
This requirement underlines a perceived unfairness in the FIA’s points system, where competing in a highly demanding and internationally prominent series like IndyCar does not award equivalent credit toward Super Licence eligibility compared to participation in the European Formula 2 series.
Lando Norris Voices Criticism of the FIA’s Points System
Lando Norris, now a McLaren F1 driver and a serious contender in the 2025 championship, criticized the FIA’s points allocation rules when addressing Herta’s situation and the broader comparison between IndyCar and Formula 2. Norris, who raced against Herta during their junior careers in Europe, expressed clear support for the American’s capability and the stiffness of IndyCar competition.
“It’s not my decision. I think he’s probably capable of driving a Formula 1 car and driving it at an incredibly high level. He’s probably better than most other drivers that are in the ranks and coming up in F3 and F2 and stuff. So, I don’t think [he should need to race in F2] if I was the boss.”
—Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Driver
Norris emphasized the difficulty and skill required to compete in IndyCar, stating that the series is one of the toughest in the world and requires exceptional driving ability. Despite not having driven an IndyCar himself, he acknowledged the high level of competition and suggested that IndyCar racing should be valued more highly by the FIA in the Super Licence process.
“I think there’s still a certain allowance of, you have to qualify in some way. I don’t think you can just be an old billy and just pay to get into Formula 1, but IndyCar, I think, is one of the toughest series in the world. I think it’s an incredibly tough car to drive. I’ve never driven it myself, but you can tell all of those things, and the level of all these drivers is incredibly high. I don’t know how many points they get in IndyCar, but I would put it above the level of Formula 2 in a way.”
—Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Driver
History Between Norris and Herta in Junior Racing
Colton Herta and Lando Norris have a shared history from their junior racing days. Both competed in the 2015 MSA Formula Championship for the Carlin team, where Norris clinched the championship with ten pole positions and eight race wins. Herta finished third overall, securing three pole positions and four wins, showcasing his early talent alongside Norris.
The Story Behind Herta’s Nickname “Hooligan Herta” from Norris
In 2022, Colton Herta joined McLaren Formula 1 as a development driver while still competing in IndyCar with Andretti Global. Ahead of a two-day test of McLaren’s 2021 car, the MCL35M, at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, Norris recounted an anecdote about their relationship and Herta’s aggressive driving style from their shared juniors.
“His nickname is Hooligan Herta because there’s one place he was extremely strong, and that’s high-speed corners,”
—Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Driver
“And I feel like one of my strengths is pretty high-speed corners. But he was just like another level in some sorts. He would quite often go off because of it and maybe not crash, but just go through the gravel, and we’d have to clean his car after because of how much dirt there was on it. A lovely guy, of course. But I grew up with him when I was younger for a good year and a half, two years. And he’s just a bit crazy. A bit of a hooligan.”
—Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Driver
Looking Ahead: Norris and Herta as Future Formula 1 Rivals
Colton Herta and Lando Norris are set to compete in Formula 1 as rivals starting in 2026, with Herta likely securing a racing seat at Cadillac F1 after serving as a test driver. The competitive performance of established drivers like Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac will influence Herta’s chances of securing a full-time race seat in 2027 or beyond. Meanwhile, Norris continues to build his reputation as a top contender with McLaren.
The ongoing debate surrounding the Colton Herta Super Licence controversy highlights broader questions about how different motorsport disciplines are valued by governing bodies and raises potential calls for reform in the pathway to Formula 1 for drivers excelling outside the traditional European feeder series.
