FIA Global Pathway

The FIA Global Pathway is a program from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's international governing body, that helps drivers move from karting up to Formula One. It began in 2014 with the introduction of the Formula 4 category and uses a step-by-step structure where drivers progress through cars with increasing power. The pathway brings together various feeder series into a more direct route to Formula One.

The first stage is Formula 4, open to drivers aged 15 and older. These are national championships, each limited to a single geographic region, though a "national" series may cover multiple countries. All Formula 4 cars use standardized chassis and engines, so drivers can switch between championships without adapting to a different vehicle.

The second stage is Formula Regional, formerly called Regional Formula 3, featuring more powerful cars than Formula 4. It was added to the pathway in 2018, leading to the renaming of several national and regional series that were previously known as "Formula 3." As of 2025, there are five regional championships: Americas, European, Japanese, Middle East, and Oceania. The Macau Grand Prix is a standalone global event run under Formula Regional rules, drawing drivers from these regional series.

The only international Formula 3 series is the FIA Formula 3 Championship, which began in 2019. Formula 2 is the final step before Formula One. This international championship is mostly held in Europe during F1 race weekends, with some rounds in the Middle East and Australia. Drivers do not have to compete in Formula 2 to reach Formula One—success in Formula 3 also earns Super Licence points—but Formula 2 awards the most points among recognized series. Rather than creating a new category, the FIA rebranded the GP2 Series as the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Formula One sits at the top of the pathway, recognized by the FIA as the premier open-wheel motorsport class.

Many other series—including open-wheel categories like Formula E, Euroformula Open, GB3 and GB4, and tin-top series such as the World Endurance Championship, Supercars, and NASCAR Cup Series—are not part of the Global Pathway but still contribute Super Licence points. In practice, nearly all 21st-century F1 drivers have come through the pathway or its predecessor series, sometimes after a stint as a third driver. A few have spent time in IndyCar or Japan's Super Formula.

IndyCar, the top American open-wheel series, has its own development ladder: the USF Pro Championships. Like the FIA pathway, it uses progressively faster cars. As of 2024, Formula 4 has struggled for entries in the United States, possibly because the USF Pro series is cheaper. IndyCar itself sits between Formula 2 and Formula 3 in Super Licence points, so its most successful drivers can earn enough points to qualify for F1 without racing in any other series.