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. The program was first developed in 2014 with the creation of the Formula 4 category, 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.
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Formula 4
Formula 4 is the first stage of the Global Pathway, for drivers fifteen years of age and older. 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, such as the SMP F4 Championship, which takes in Russia, Estonia, Finland and the Netherlands. 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 3
The second stage of the Global Pathway is Formula 3, which puts drivers in cars that are progressively more powerful than those used in Formula 4. The series is classified as a "regional" championship, with the calendar expanded to include a wider range of circuits; for example, European Formula 3 includes circuits used by both ADAC Formula 4 and the Italian Formula 4 Championships.
Currently, European Formula 3 is the only Formula 3 series sanctioned by the FIA, but the FIA has announced plans to build a Formula 3 championship for North, Central and South America modelled on the European series, but drawing on Formula 4 Sudamericana and the F4 United States Championship.
Formula 2
The reintroduction of Formula 2 is planned to be the final intermediary stage of the Global Pathway. The series will be styled as an "international" championship for drivers seventeen to eighteen years old. Drivers will not be required to participate in Formula 2 to compete in Formula One, as success in Formula 3 will contribute to a driver's FIA Super Licence; however, of the series which are recognised as contributing to a Super Licence, Formula 2 will have the greatest weight. 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.
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
Other established open-wheel series, such as the GP2 and GP3 Series and Formula Renault, are not considered to be a part of the Global Pathway, but will still contribute to a driver's Super Licence.