1982 · SPORTING
1982 Sporting Regulations
1982 opened with a driver strike at Kyalami (South African GP) over a new super-licence clause that tied a driver's licence to a single team — Lauda, Pironi and nearly the entire field holed up in a Johannesburg hotel until the clause was revised. The calendar ran 16 rounds with 9-6-4-3-2-1 points (top 6) and best-11-of-16 scoring for drivers. Keke Rosberg took the title with a single win, the result of an unusually open season in which eleven different drivers won a race.
Super-licence strike (Kyalami)
Ahead of the 1982 South African GP the FISA introduced a super-licence clause stipulating that a driver's licence was tied to a specific team. The drivers, organised by Didier Pironi as GPDA president and Niki Lauda as spokesperson, went on strike and drove themselves to a Johannesburg hotel where they spent the night under team-manager siege. Racing only resumed when the clause was softened. The episode is one of the most significant driver-led collective actions in F1 history.
Points & race format
Unchanged from 1981: 9-6-4-3-2-1 for top 6, best 11 of 16 results for drivers, all results for constructors. Race target 300 km or 2 hours. No compulsory pit stops. Practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday.
Last updated: 2026-04-24
This summary is editorial material prepared by F1pedia for general F1 audiences. It is not a legal reference. For binding rule text, consult the official FIA document.