In order to compete in Formula One, all drivers are required to have something called a Superlicense, which is the top rung of the FIA's licensing system. It's also surprisingly easy for any kid with a big checkbook who has driven a car to get one. That might all be changing. Finally.
The World Motor Sport Council met this week in Beijing, and one of the items that is now on the FIA's agenda is a review of how a Superlicense is issued to competitors. This comes in light of 16 year old Max Verstappen getting a Superlicense and a ride with Toro Rosso for 2015 after one season in cars. Oh, and he crashed an F1 car in a display drive just a couple weeks ago.
The barrier to entry for a Superlicense should be rather high and take more than one promising season in cars to get a license. Maybe in rare cases, like Kimi Raikkonen, that can work. But that should be the exception, not the rule when it comes to awarding the license.
We'll see just how much harder it is to get a license after the FIA's full review of the process is finished.