FIA Formula 4, also known as "F4", is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship; instead, individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and specifications.
The category was created in March 2013 by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)—the International sanctioning and administrative body for motorsport—after approval by the World Motor Sport Council as an entry-level category for young drivers, bridging the gap between karting and Formula 3. The series is a part of the FIA Global Pathway. Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger was appointed as the FIA Single-Seater Commission president to oversee the creation of the category as a response to declining interest in national Formula 3 championships due to rising costs and alternate pathways to Formula One such as the then Formula Renault and GP2 and GP3 Series, which had seen several national Formula 3 championships discontinued. In the place of the expensive categories, a number of separate categories running under the Formula 4 name had been created, for example, the British-based former BRDC Formula 4. There was no commonality between the cars from country to country.
Initially, these Formula 4 championships began in 2014 as a single-make category, before the regulations were opened to multiple chassis and engine manufacturers. Each championship uses a single make of engine, with the regulations mandating a capacity and capping the maximum power output at , higher than Formula Ford and lower than Formula Renault. The engines are equalized so that no one Formula 4 championship is faster than the others, with the long-term aim of bringing the cost of competing down to under €100,000 per year.
In practice, costs for competitors considerably exceed this goal; the cost of participating in the 2022 French Formula 4 series (including all equipment) was , excluding tax. Costs in other F4 championships can be considerably higher, with one estimate of the costs of a realistic attempt at the now-defunct German F4 series championship in excess of .
Homologated chassis manufacturers To become eligible for FIA Formula 4, the chassis must meet the FIA homologation requirements respecting technical and commercial regulations. Four chassis manufacturers have been approved by the FIA: Tatuus, Mygale, Dome and Ligier.
First generation chassis
Second generation chassis
Homologated engines
To become an eligible FIA Formula 4 engine, the engine must meet the homologation requirements. According to the homologation requirements a FIA Formula 4 engine must last at least 10,000 km and have a maximum purchase price of €14000. According to the FIA Formula 4 technical regulations only four cylinder engines are allowed. Both normally aspirated and turbocharged engines are permitted, with an absolute maximum power output of 140 kW. The engine displacement is unlimited. Currently seven engines are homologated for use in the FIA Formula 4.
Manufacturer Abarth Ford Geely Honda Renault TOM's-ToyotaLigier Engine name 1.4L FTJ 3ZRLigier Storm V4 Engine type inline 4 inline 4 inline 4 inline 4 inline 4 inline 4V4 Displacement 1,400cc 1,600cc 2,000cc 2,000cc 2,000cc 2,000cc1650cc Valvetrain DOHC CVVT DOHCi-VTEC DOHC VVT DOHC VVT DOHC GEMS Honda GDi80 D Lubrication Dry sump Dry sumpDry sump Cooling Transmission (SLR75) Fuel
Performance
Formula 4 is the first step out of karting on the FIA Global Pathway, and by design has the least performance of any of the cars in it.
Compared to road-legal supercars, Formula 4 cars are less accelerative and have a much lower top speed of approximately 240 km/h; most modern supercars are capable of in excess of 300 km/h. The F4 cars have far superior braking and cornering capabilities, particularly in high-speed corners where the aerodynamic downforce of the Formula 4 cars has the most effect.
According to official information from the F1 Academy, the Tatuus race car (virtually identical to the one used in some F4 series) has a peak lateral cornering acceleration of about 2.0g, far in excess of a typical (non-sporting) road car which peaks at less than 1g, but considerably less than Formula 3 cars (which peak around 2.5g).
To give some idea of the gap between F4 and F1 performance levels, the fastest qualifying lap for a 2023 F4 round at the Silverstone GP circuit was 2:01.651; the pole lap in the 2024 British Grand Prix in an F1 car was 1:25.819.
However, F4 cars still lap considerably faster than most production-derived racing categories. The F4 pole time is about 2 seconds faster than the Porsche Carrera Cup lap record and about 10 seconds faster than the TCR Touring Car lap record.
Active FIA-sanctioned championships
FIA Motorsport Games
A Formula 4 race forms part of the FIA Motorsport Games, a biennial event featuring a variety of motorsport disciplines including karting, drifting, rallying, and e-sports as well as circuit racing.
FIA-sanctioned national/regional championships
As of 2025, the FIA recognises thirteen F4 championships. These championships are held to Formula 4 regulations and approved by the FIA as the national Formula 4 series. Drivers participating in these series can receive FIA Super Licence points, which are required to drive in Formula One. For a series to be eligible for Super Licence points, a season must be held over at least five events at a minimum of three circuits, according to FIA Appendix L. While titled national series, some series are contested at tracks in multiple countries.
Years Name Country/Region Chassis Engine Note 2014–present Italian F4 Championship Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2014–present) Replaced Formula Abarth. 2015–present F4 Japanese Championship Dome F110 (2014–2023)Toray Carbon Magic MCS4-24 (2024-) TOM'S-Toyota 2.0L (2015–present) Organised by GT–Association to support Super GT. F4 British Championship Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2021)Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2022–present) Replaced the British Formula Ford Championship. F4 Chinese Championship Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2023)Mygale M21-F4 (2024-) Geely G-Power JLD-4G20 (2.0L) (2015–present) Organised by Narcar International Racing Development Co., Ltd. to host the China Formula Grand Prix. NACAM Formula 4 Championship Mygale M14-F4 (2015–2023) Tatuus F4-T421 (2024-) Ford 1.6L EcoBoost (2015–2023)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2024-) Sanctioned by Mexican ASN — OMDAI, organised by local motorsport promoters Copa NotiAuto and the Mexican Federation of Competitive Motorsport (FEMADAC). 2016–present F4 Spanish Championship Tatuus F4-T014 (2016–2021)Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2016–present) Established by the Spanish ASN — RFEDA and Koiranen GP. For the 2025 season, a winter series was created, known as Eurocup-4 SWC. Formula 4 United States Championship (2016–2023) Ligier JS F422 (2024-) Honda K20C2 (2.0L) (2016–2023) Ligier Storm (2024-) Organised by SCCA Pro Racing (Sports Car Club of America) and United States ASN — ACCUS. Formula 4 South East Asia Championship Mygale M14-F4 (2016–2019)Tatuus F4-T421 (2023,2025-) Renault F4R (2.0L) (2016–2019) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2023, 2025-)The inaugural season was held over 2016 and 2017. The COVID-19 pandemic put a momentary stop to the championship in 2020, but in 2023, the championship was revived under a new promoter Top Speed Shanghai Ltd . 2018–present F4 French Championship Mygale M14-F4 (2018–2021) Mygale M21-F4 (2022–present) Renault F4R (2.0L) (2018–2019) Alpine (2022–present) Replaces the previous French F4 Championship which was a Formula Renault 1.6 series. Organised by Fédération Française du Sport Automobile. 2022–present F4 Brazilian Championship Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2022–present) Organized by Brazilian Auto Racing Confederation and Vicar, the Stock Car Pro Series promotor. 2023–present F4 Indian Championship Mygale M21-F4 (2023–present) Alpine 1.3L Turbocharged Engine (2023–present)Supports the Formula Regional Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League. Formula 4 CEZ Championship Tatuus F4-T421 (2023–present) Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2023–present) Organized by the Automobile Club of the Czech Republic and Křenek Motorsport, the ESET V4 Cup Series promotor.2024–presentF4 Saudi Arabian ChampionshipTatuus F4-T421 (2024-present)Autotecnica 414TF 1.4L (2024-present)First held in 2024. Operated by Altawkilat Meritus GP.2025FIA F4 World CupMygale M21-F4 (2025)Alpine (2025)An F4 category was added to the Macau Grand Prix for 2025.
Active non-FIA-sanctioned championships There are a number of active championships that follow the current and former F4 specifications, but are not considered official F4 championships by the FIA. +YearsNameCountry/RegionChassisEngineNote2015–2019, 2024–presentAU4 Australian ChampionshipMygale M14-F4 (2015–2019, 2025–)Tatuus F4-T421 (2024–)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2024–)The CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship ran from 2015 to 2019. Revived by China-based Top Speed in 2024, the series added a Mygale M14-F4 class in 2025 and adopted the new name AU4 Australian Championship.2015–2019, 2025SMP F4 ChampionshipTatuus F4-T014 (2015–2019)Tatuus F4-T421 (2025–present)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2015–2019, 2025–)The SMP F4 Championship was held from 2016 to 2019 before losing its FIA certification. In 2025, the series returned.2016–presentUAE4 SeriesTatuus F4-T014 (2016–2021)Tatuus F4-T421 (2022–present)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2016–present)Organized by Emirates Motorsport Organization (EMSO) and Top Speed. Formerly known as F4 UAE Championship and F4 Middle East Championship. The series lost its FIA certification and was renamed as UAE4 Series in 2026.2017–presentNordic 4 ChampionshipMygale M14-F4 (2017–present)Renault F4R (2.0L) (2017–present)Organised by Dansk Automobil Sports Union. From 2017 to 2023, the series was called Danish Formula 4 Championship. In 2024, the series was renamed to Nordic 4 and lost its FIA certification.2022–presentGB4 ChampionshipTatuus F4-T014 (2022–2024)Tatuus MSV GB4-025 (2025–)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2022–2024)Mountune 2.0L (2025–)Organized by MSV in the collaboration with British Racing Drivers' Club. It requires lower financial contribution than F4 British Championship, which is certified by FIA.2023–presentE4 ChampionshipTatuus F4-T421 (2023–present)Autotecnica 414TF 1.4L (2023–present)Organized by ACI Sport and WSK Promotions. Renamed as E4 Championship prior to the 2025 season.F1 AcademyInternationalModified Tatuus F4-T421 (2023–present)Autotecnica 414TF 1.4L (2023–present)All-female racing series run by Formula One since 2023. Despite not being FIA-certified, it does award super licence points.Formula Winter SeriesTatuus F4-T421 (2023–present)Autotecnica 414TF 1.4L (2023–present)Winter series held in Spain and Portugal.2024–presentFormula Trophy UAE United Arab EmiratesTatuus F4-T421 (2024–present)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2024–present)Organized by Emirates Motorsport Organization (EMSO) and Top Speed. Spinoff of the UAE4 Series.2025–presentFormula 4 ThailandTatuus F4-T421 (2025)Abarth 414TF 1.4L (2025)Organized by Pakelo Lubricants Thailand.Ligier Junior Formula ChampionshipLigier JS F416Honda K20C1Originally named the "Ligier JS F4 Series" in 2024, and was renamed for 2025. Feeder/development series to the F4 United States Championship.2026–presentFormula IDN Racing SeriesLigier JS F422 (2026)Alpine 1.3L Turbocharged Engine (2026)Supported and organized by Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA), and InJourney. The series is scheduled to hold its inaugural race in Q3 2026.
Former Formula 4 championships Canada CASC Formula 4