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🏁 What Is F4 and Why Was It Key for Franco?

The category where Franco shone and began his professional journey

Published

17 Jul 2025

Est. reading time

3 min

👉 It’s Thursday — the perfect time for a Throwback — so earlier today we shared a gallery of never-before-seen photos from Franco’s time in F4

Now we want to help you better understand what this racing category is and why it played such a crucial role in his journey to Formula 1

Formula 4 (F4) is the first major step for drivers who come from karting and dream of reaching F1. That was also the case for Franco Colapinto, who became Spanish F4 champion in 2019 before progressing to international single-seaters.

But what exactly is F4, and why is it so important?

👀 What is Formula 4?

F4 is a single-seater category designed for young drivers. Unlike Formula 1, where Franco currently races, there is no single global championship. Instead, each country or region hosts its own series, all following a unified technical rulebook set by the FIA.

The cars are significantly less powerful than those in F1 (around 160 hp compared to over 1000 hp), and are built to help drivers develop core skills like car control, teamwork, data analysis and professional conduct — usually after several years of karting.

🏆 Colapinto in Spanish F4 – 2019 Season

Franco made his single-seater debut at the end of the 2018 season, taking part in four races — achieving a P2 and a win — before making his full-season debut in 2019 in the Spanish F4 Championship, following several years of karting experience in both Argentina and Spain.

That season, he achieved: - 11 wins - 13 podiums - 10 pole positions - 10 fastest laps - Champion overall and Rookie Trophy winner with 325 points

There were 26 drivers on the grid, including 19 rookies.

Franco was one of the few to compete in nearly all rounds of the championship, which ran from April to November at circuits including Barcelona, Jerez, Paul Ricard, Portimão and Navarra.

To this day, Franco is the only Spanish F4 champion (from 2017 to 2024) to have reached Formula 1

An incredible achievement worth remembering, especially in quiet race weeks like this one.

📸 Want to see exclusive photos of Franco in F4?

🗺️ The Role of F4 on the Road to F1

F4 is the first step in the so-called feeder series, a category ladder designed to help young talents progress toward F1. For over a decade, the FIA has worked to make this path clearer and more accessible.

There are several national F4 championships:

- Italian F4 is considered the most competitive. - Spanish F4 stands out for its fairness, with private testing limited. - British and French F4 have also grown in reputation. - There's also F1 Academy, an all-female category created to support young women transitioning from karting.

How exciting must it be to compete in one of these series, right?

🥳 Show Us Your #TBT Supporting Franco

Share your photos — show us how long you’ve been a Franco fan — on X or Instagram using the hashtag #FranClub43

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