Guide
The road to F1: how the junior ladder works
Most F1 drivers climb the same ladder: karting, F4, regional F3, Formula 3, then Formula 2. Here is what each step is for and where super licence points come from.
The ladder
The FIA's single-seater pathway gives young drivers a step-by-step route from karting to F1. Each rung uses faster cars and tougher competition, and each one pays more super licence points.
| Step | What it is |
|---|---|
| Karting | Where nearly every F1 driver starts, often before the age of 10. |
| Formula 4 | The first car series, run as national championships such as British, Italian and Spanish F4. |
| Regional F3 | Faster cars and international grids, such as the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA). |
| FIA Formula 3 | Races on the F1 support bill at many Grands Prix. The first place where F1 team scouts see drivers every weekend. |
| FIA Formula 2 | The final step. Also races on the F1 support bill, with cars closest to F1 speed. |
Why F2 and F3 matter most
F2 and F3 race on the same weekends and circuits as F1, so drivers learn the tracks, the tyres and the media load they will face in F1. They also pay the most super licence points of any junior series. A top-three F2 championship finish is worth 40 points, the whole requirement in one season. An F3 title is worth 30.
That is why a strong F3 season followed by a top-three F2 season is the classic route. Nikola Tsolov, for example, banked 25 points as F3 runner-up in 2025, then led much of the 2026 F2 season.
Other routes
F2 is not the only way in. IndyCar and Japan's Super Formula also pay significant points, and drivers from those series do reach F1. Points can be combined across championships within the three-season window.
Junior academies
Most F2 and F3 front-runners belong to an F1 team's junior academy, such as Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren or Alpine. Academies fund drivers, give them simulator time and F1 practice outings, and decide who gets promoted. Points make a driver eligible. An academy, or a team that believes in them, gets them the seat.
Follow the 2026 season
The Road to F1 tracker shows where every leading F2 and F3 driver stands against the 40-point target, updated after each round.