German F4 Returns in 2027 with Gold Prize and 20 Test Days

Germany will once again have its own national Formula 4 championship in 2027, ending a four-year hiatus. The seven-round series will be organized by Gedlich Racing in cooperation with the German Motor Sport Federation (DMSB).

This is not just a nostalgic revival. Gedlich Racing aims to build on the success of its Iberia-based Formula Winter Series, which has been running since 2023. Unlike the FWS, however, German F4 will be an FIA-certified championship – the 14th globally.

Robin Selbach, Gedlich Racing's Managing Director, expressed his gratitude: "We are grateful for the excellent support from the DMSB, which worked with us – and in cooperation with the FIA – over a long period to bring this arrangement to fruition."

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The events will largely run on the DTM support package, although a number of additional events will be held within the ADAC Racing Weekend framework, according to Stefan Lehner, Gedlich's Head of Racing Series. Six of the seven rounds are scheduled at German tracks, starting at Hockenheim, then Lausitzring, Norisring, Oschersleben, Nurburgring, and Sachsenring. The seventh will take place at either Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort, or the Red Bull Ring. The final calendar is due in September, and all races will be streamed live.

Each round will feature three races and two qualifying sessions. In addition to super licence points, drivers will compete for a i500,000 prize fund – which, unusually, will be paid in gold.

German F4 will follow the model used across most of Europe, except France: Tatuus chassis, Abarth engines from Autotecnica Motori, and Pirelli tyres. This should allow teams to run concurrent campaigns in Italy, Central Europe, Spain, or Britain. Currently, F4 grids in Europe are extremely healthy; the Italian and Central European championships even run heats and a final to accommodate entries. So the demand for another series appears to be there.

The previous ADAC-run championship ran from 2015 to 2022 until increasing costs and the growing dominance of Italian F4 led to its demise, leaving a gap in Germany's national single-seater scene. In its heyday, ADAC F4 rivalled Italy as the strongest championship in Europe, with champions including Theo Pourchaire, Oliver Bearman, and Kimi Antonelli.

One of the main criticisms of ADAC F4 was the lack of pre-event testing, particularly compared to Italy. To address this while keeping budgets in check, German F4 will provide 20 test days throughout the season, including two pre-season tests.

FIA Single-Seater Commission President Emanuele Pirro welcomed the new series: "There has been a clear gap in the market between Germany's thriving karting scene and the international single-seater pyramid. The F4 German Championship certified by FIA bridges that gap. Germany's single-seater championships were always strong in the past, creating many champions of the future. The return of F4 to the country will revive that tradition and promote the new generation of talent."