FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One

The FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One is a program developed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the international sanctioning body for motorsports that is designed to assist racing drivers progress from karting to Formula One.^[1] The program was first developed in 2014 with the creation of the Formula 4 category,^[2] and follows a tiered structure, with drivers racing in increasingly-powerful cars. The Global Pathway represents the consolidation of feeder series to create a more linear approach to progressing into Formula One.^[1]

Eligible series

Formula 4

Main article: Formula 4

Formula 4 is the first stage of the Global Pathway, for drivers fifteen years of age and older.^[1] Formula 4 is structured as a "national" championship, with each series contained within a single geographical area. Despite the "national" classification, Formula 4 championships may encompass several countries. Each Formula 4 championship uses chassis and engines built to a single specification so that drivers can compete in multiple championships without having to adjust to a different car.

Formula Regional

Main article: Formula Regional

The second stage of the Global Pathway is Formula Regional, previously known as Regional Formula 3, which puts drivers in cars that are more powerful than those used in Formula 4. Formula Regional was integrated to the pathway in 2018, resulting in the renaming of a number of national and regional championships, mostly previously known as "Formula 3".^[3] The series are classified as "regional" championships. As of 2023, there are six regional series: Formula Regional Americas Championship, Formula Regional European Championship, Formula Regional Japanese Championship, Formula Regional Indian Championship, Formula Regional Middle East Championship and Formula Regional Oceania Championship.

Formula 3

The only "international" series of Formula 3 are the FIA Formula 3 Championship and the FIA Formula 3 World Cup, a one-event competition that traditionally takes place during the Macau Grand Prix. It started in 2019.^[4]

Formula 2

Formula 2 is the final intermediary stage of the Global Pathway.^[5][6][1] The Formula 2 championship is an international championship, based mostly in Europe and run at F1 race weekend, but with some races in the Middle East and Australia.^[1] Drivers are not required to participate in Formula 2 to compete in Formula One, as success in Formula 3 contributes to a driver's FIA Super Licence, but of the series which are recognised as contributing to a Super Licence, Formula 2 has the greatest weight.^[7] Rather than creating a new series where none previously existed, the FIA chose to rebrand the GP2 Series as the FIA Formula 2 Championship starting in 2017.^[8]

Formula 1

Formula One represents the top tier of the Global Pathway, with the series recognised by the FIA as the premier class of open-wheel motorsport.

Other series

Many other series, including open-wheel series such as Formula E, Euroformula Open Championship, GB3 Championship & GB4 Championship, and "tin-top" categories such as the World Endurance Championship, Supercars Championship, and NASCAR Cup Series, are not considered to be a part of the Global Pathway,^[1] but will still contribute to a driver's Super Licence.^[7] In practice, however, virtually all drivers entering F1 in the 21st century have done so directly after competing in series in the global pathway or their predecessor series (possibly including a period as a third driver).

IndyCar, the premier American domestic open wheeler series, has its own development pathway, the USF Pro Championships. Like the FIA global pathway, the USF Pro Championships consists of a number of series using progressively faster and more powerful cars. As of 2024, Formula 4 has struggled for entries in the US, possibly due to the lower costs of competing in the USF Pro series.^[9] IndyCar itself ranks just below Formula 2 and above Formula 3 in terms of Super License points allocated, so the most successful IndyCar drivers can acquire sufficient points to get the Super Licence required to compete in F1.

Comparison

Class	F1	FIA F2	FIA F3	FR	F4	OK (karting)
Chassis	Various	Dallara F2 2024	Dallara F3 2019	Tatuus F3 T-318/Ligier JS F3	Tatuus F4-T421/Mygale M21-F4	Various
Engine	Hybrid 1.6 L turbocharged V6	3.4 L turbocharged V6	3.4 L NA V6	1.8 L / 2.0L	2.0-1.4 L	125 cc
Minimum weight (kg)	798	795	673	665-650	570	158
Typical power (hp)	1000	620	380	300-270	180-185	36
Example picture

References

1. "About Formula 4". formula4.com.au. Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
2. Anderson, Ben; O'Leary, Jamie (21 March 2013). "FIA reveals Formula 4 plan". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
3. Series, Feeder (2023-02-25). "From F4 to F1: The feeder series ladder explained". Feeder Series. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
4. "Formula 1 to promote the FIA Formula 3 Championship". formula1.com. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
5. "FIA begins work on new Formula 2 feeder category for Formula 1". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
6. Simmons, Marcus (9 January 2015). "F2 to be Domenicalli's focus". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
7. "New Super Licence points system from 2016". Formula1.com. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
8. Howard, Tom (10 March 2017). "GP2 Series renamed FIA Formula 2". speedcafe.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
9. Series, Feeder (2024-05-14). "The existential threats facing F4 US in its new era". Feeder Series. Retrieved 2024-06-05.