Photo: Daimler Global Media

Gary Paffett hits out at F1 super licence points system

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Mercedes-Benz DTM driver Gary Paffett has criticised the new super licence points system released by FIA, to be applied from 2016. The governing body classes single seater championships as feeding series, ignoring the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.

The FIA has announced that, from 2016, super licence applicants must be 18 years old and have a minimum of 40 points, acquired within the three previous years from their rankings in a number of recognized feeder single seater series. The only non-formula category accepted is the LMP1 from the FIA WEC.

Gary Paffett agrees with the age restrictions and the requirement of proven racing expertise, but thinks that it is wrong for the FIA to exclude the DTM from the list of recognised series.

“I agree with the theory,” Paffett told Reuters. “But omitting certain championships, and especially the DTM, from the super license points system is quite a flaw.”

The Briton has competed in the DTM since the 2003 season, becoming champion in 2005. He was on the cards for a seat at the McLaren F1 team from 2006 to 2008.

Similarly, Paul di Resta made his DTM debut in 2007, winning the title in 2010. In 2011, he landed an F1 seat with Force India, staying with the team for three seasons before returning to the DTM in 2014.

Both drivers wouldn’t have been able to obtain a super licence with the new points system announced by the motorsport governing body.

Pascal Wehrlein is just another example. The 20-year-old has just completed his second season in the DTM, becoming the youngest ever race winner in the series after prevailing at Lausitzring. Wehrlein was chosen as reserve driver for the Mercedes F1 Team back in September.

Gary Paffett added the reasons why DTM should be reconsidered as a feeder series: “It’s a great learning championship for drivers to come into. You are representing a manufacturer, racing cars are at a very high level of performance, downforce and power and you are racing with very high quality drivers. So what you learn in DTM is a very high level. I think the licence system needs some work.”

So far, Gary Paffett is the only driver actually confirmed by Mercedes for the 2015 DTM season, although Christian Vietoris, Paul di Resta and Pascal Wehrlein are expected to remain with the Stuttgart manufacturer.