Many recent discussions on social media and around the motorsports world have centered around Colton Herta possibly driving in Formula One in 2023. Herta would need the FIA to grant him a Super License to compete in Formula One despite not having 40 points over the last three seasons as awarded by the FIA for such a license.
Herta currently has 32 points after finishing seventh (four points) in 2019, third (20 points) in 2020 and fifth (eight points) in 2021 and would need special dispensation to be able to race in Formula One.
It has emerged that Christian Lundgaard was twice denied by the FIA for a Super License. Alpine applied on the Danish racer’s behalf, owing to him racing as part of their academy.
Drivers are not allowed to apply for a Super License, only a team can start that process. However, a penalty at the FIA Formula 3 race at Paul Ricard was jurisdiction for denial.
“It was all denied because of a five-second penalty in 2019,” Lundgaard said of his Super License application. “Five-second penalties give you two (penalty) points on your license. If you have 12 penalty points, you get denied racing for a weekend. I know Lewis (Hamilton) has been close a couple of times, but never reached it. If you have any penalty points, (the FIA) can deny it.”
Lundgaard placed sixth in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 championship before racing in Formula 2 for two seasons. The 2017 Spanish F4 champion finished seventh and 12th in the standings those years. After sampling IndyCar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in August of 2021, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing signed Lundgaard for 2022. The two have recently agreed to terms on a multi-year deal.
“Looking at it, the rules are the rules,” Lundgaard said. “I’ve been denied. It was a bummer at the time. I got the opportunity to come here, so I’m happy. I’ve settled down, I’ve sorted myself out. Obviously F1 is F1, everyone will call it the pinnacle of motorsport, I think F1 is this prestigious series because it is so exclusive, right.
“I enjoy IndyCar more because it gives me the values of motorsport that I always grew up believing in, so I’m happier here.”
Lundgaard leads the Rookie of the Year championship battle by five points heading to the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Live race coverage starts on NBC at 3:00 p.m. ET.
