Formula One's governing body has kicked up a controversy with a new super licence points system for 2016 that, if applied in the past, would have kept even Ayrton Senna waiting for a debut.

The revamped criteria, in an appendix to the international sporting code buried inside the fia.com website and published quietly last month, will ensure all drivers are over 18 and experienced enough.

They must have earned at least 40 points, on a scale set by the FIA, through competing in other series over the previous three seasons.

There is currently no age limit and drivers can satisfy the experience requirement by completing 300km in a recent F1 car over a two-day test period and demonstrating 'outstanding ability'.

The new rules would have kept out 17-year-old Dutch racer Max Verstappen, who is due to make his debut in Australia in March as the sport's youngest ever driver, on all counts.

They would have forced 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen to wait for his 2001 debut while Brazilian Senna, the late triple champion who debuted in 1984, would also have acquired insufficient points.

"My main F3 rival and I went (British) F3 directly to F1," commented former racer Martin Brundle on Twitter. "New 2016 Super Licence rules prevent that. Ayrton Senna turned out to be quite good though..."

Meanwhile, the Formula One season has been reduced to 20 races after the Korean Grand Prix was removed from the schedule for 2015.

The sport faced a record-breaking 21-race calendar after the event - set to be staged in Mokpo at the southern tip of South Korea - was included as a surprise addition last month.

Following a four-year run after its debut in 2010 the Korean Grand Prix dropped off the calendar for last season due to a lack of funds and poor attendances.

And despite its initial inclusion for 2015 on the schedule released in December, the FIA has excluded it from its revised schedule released on Tuesday.

I think that's a stupid rule. It just creates more red tape.
Imagine if it had stopped Ayrton Senna from making his debut? Seriously bad move F1

Eh, I'm not sure about it. I think having 17 year olds placed in F1 cars without even doing the GP2 and GP3 series is a bit dumb. It neglects the need for them.

I'm all for having more experience before they get into the race seat. I keep hearing Max Verstappen is "special", but where is the evidence? He has driven enough for anyone to judge <_<

It's up to the teams themselves to decide if a driver has enough potential or talent.
In a normal world you'd expect drivers to have experience but teams want drivers in as young as possible to mould them into the type of driver the team wants.
The changes seem like bullshit to me