ADAC Formula 4 () was a racing series regulated according to FIA Formula 4 regulations, and promoted by the German automobile club ADAC. The inaugural season was the 2015 ADAC Formula 4. It replaced the ADAC Formel Masters, held from 2008 to 2014. The series was discontinued after the 2022 season. Its final two champions, Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli, went on to race in Formula One.
In 2027, a new series, to be called the F4 German Championship, was established under the organisation of Gedlich Racing.
History Gerhard Berger and the FIA Single Seater Commission launched the FIA Formula 4 in March 2013. The goal of Formula 4 was to make the ladder to Formula One more transparent. Besides sporting and technical regulations, costs were regulated too. A car to compete in this category could not exceed a price of €30,000. A single season in Formula 4 could not exceed €100,000 in costs. ADAC F4 was one of the second phase Formula 4 championships to be launched. The first phase championships were the Italian F4 Championship and Formula 4 Sudamericana which started in 2014. The ADAC championship was launched by the ADAC on 16 July 2014. Italian race car constructor Tatuus was contracted to design and build all the cars.
After the end of the 2022 season, which was understaffed by drivers, there was a long wait for the publication of a racing calendar for 2023. This, together with the rumors about the takeover of the DTM by the ADAC, which was also carried out on 2 December 2022, gave rise to speculation that the championship would not be continued. On 3 December, ADAC announced that ADAC Formula 4 would no longer be advertised for the 2023 season. The high costs compared to other national Formula 4 championships and the low number of drivers are given as reasons for the end of the championship. Only eleven drivers were registered for the last race at the Nürburgring in mid-October, while a week later a total of 41 drivers started at the last race of the Italian F4 race in Scarperia e San Piero.
Formula 4 is set to return to Germany in 2027 with the F4 German Championship. The series will be FIA-certified once again and will be promoted by Gedlich Racing instead of the ADAC.
Car
The championship features Tatuus designed and built cars. The cars are constructed out of carbon fibre and feature a monocoque chassis. The engine is a 1.4L turbo Abarth. This is the same engine as in the Italian F4 Championship.
Champions Drivers SeasonDriverTeamPolesWinsPodiumsFastest lapsPoints% points achievableClinchedMargin 2015 Marvin Dienst HTP Junior Team7814634757.833Race 22 of 2448 2016 Joey Mawson Van Amersfoort Racing71016537463.660Race 22 of 2452 2017 Jüri Vips Prema Powerteam0270245.547.902Race 21 of 214.5 2018 Lirim Zendeli US Racing– CHRS81013834866.286Race 18 of 21114 2019 Théo Pourchaire US Racing– CHRS6412225849.143Race 21 of 217 2020 Jonny Edgar Van Amersfoort Racing5612630057.142Race 21 of 212 2021 Oliver Bearman Van Amersfoort Racing5611429565.556Race 18 of 1826 2022 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Prema Powerteam7912831383.466Race 17 of 1847
Teams SeasonTeamPolesWinsPodiumsFastest lapsPointsClinchedMargin 2016 Prema Powerteam44173459.5Race 24 of 244.5 2017 Prema Powerteam25202597.5Race 18 of 21171 2018 US Racing– CHRS8111911562Race 21 of 2141 2019 US Racing– CHRS77277528Race 20 of 2141 2020 Van Amersfoort Racing 9112711651Race 20 of 2141 2021 Van Amersfoort Racing 58225295Race 21 of 2126 2022 Prema Powerteam9123413594Race 21 of 2163
Rookies The result of the championship was decided by different standings. Wins and points of the rookie standings are present in brackets. SeasonDriverTeamPolesWins (rookie)PodiumsFastest lapsPoints (rookie)ClinchedMargin 2015 David Beckmann ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg01 (10)41166 (396)Race 22 of 2469 2016 Nicklas Nielsen Neuhauser Racing00 (6)31106 (317)Race 24 of 2414 2017 Mick Wishofer Lechner Racing00 (11)001 (383.5)Race 19 of 2172.5 2018 David Schumacher US Racing– CHRS00 (8)00103 (332)Race 20 of 2131 2019 Roman Staněk US Racing– CHRS02 (10)52165 (412)Race 18 of 2189 2020 Tim Tramnitz US Racing01 (8)60226 (386)Race 18 of 2193 2021 Nikita Bedrin Van Amersfoort Racing02(11)50147 (362)Race 21 of 2123 2022 Rafael Câmara Prema Powerteam21(11)92193 (285)Race 18 of 1816
Drivers graduated to F1
Bold denotes a 2026 Formula One driver. Gold background denotes ADAC Formula 4 champion.
DriverADAC Formula 4Formula OneSeasonsRacesWinsPodiumsSeasonsFirst teamRacesWinsPodiums Kimi Antonelli202215912–Mercedes Oliver Bearman2020–202139714–Ferrari Jack Doohan2018800–Alpine700 Liam Lawson20182039–AlphaTauri Lando Norris2015816–McLaren Mick Schumacher2015–201646614–Haas4300 Guanyu Zhou2015902–Alfa Romeo6800
Circuits
NumberCircuitsRoundsYears1 Hockenheimring122015–20222 Nürburgring102015–20223 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben92015–20204 Red Bull Ring72015–2021 Lausitzring72015–2018, 2020, 20226 Sachsenring52015–2017, 2019, 20217 Circuit Park Zandvoort42016, 2019, 2021–20228 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps22015, 2022
Notes
References
External links