Formula 4
FIA Formula 4 is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather 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 —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 started in 2014 as a single-make category before the regulations were opened up 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 equalised so that no one Formula 4 championship is faster than the others, with the long-term intention being to bring the cost down to under €100,000 per year to compete.
In practice, costs for competitors considerably exceed this goal; the cost of participating in the 2022 French Formula 4 series 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-Toyota | Ligier |
| Engine name | 1.4L FTJ | 3ZR | Ligier Storm V4 | ||||
| Engine type | inline 4 | inline 4 | inline 4 | inline 4 | inline 4 | inline 4 | V4 |
| Displacement | 1,400cc | 1,600cc | 2,000cc | 2,000cc | 2,000cc | 2,000cc | 1650cc |
| Valvetrain | DOHC | CVVT DOHC | i-VTEC DOHC | VVT DOHC | VVT DOHC | ||
| GEMS Honda GDi80 D | |||||||
| Lubrication | Dry sump | Dry sump | Dry sump | ||||
| Cooling | |||||||
| Transmission | |||||||
| 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 has a peak lateral cornering acceleration of about 2.0g, far in excess of a typical road car which peaks at less than 1g, but considerably less than Formula 3 cars.
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 |  Italynowrap|Tatuus F4-T014Active non-FIA-sanctioned championshipsThere are a number of active championships that follow the current and former F4 specifications, but are not considered official F4 championships by the FIA.
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Australianowrap|Ford 1.6L