Program to assist racing drivers in making progress 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]
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.
The Macau Grand Prix is a one-off, global event run under Formula Regional rules, attracting drivers who race in the various Formula Regional championships.
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.
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 without competing in any other series.