French Formula 4 in 2026 - All You Need to Know
French Formula 4 kicks off its 2026 Season this weekend so let’s get up to speed with everything you need to know about this series with a quick crash course.
What is French Formula 4?
French Formula 4 is an open-wheel racing series that was originally founded in 1993 by Louis Drouet. Based in France, its aim is to help with the transition from karting to single-seater racing and prepare drivers for the next step on their single-seater journey. The series itself is currently organised by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) - hence why you often see it referred to as the FFSA Championship.
Crucially, since 2018, the series runs under the umbrella of the FIA. Around thirty drivers compete each season, with fifteen different nationalities on the grid this year. Importantly too, the drivers of the French Formula 4 Championship will be able to score points towards the super license needed to compete in Formula 1.
A Look Back in Time
Since 1993, a number of notable names have competed in the series and gone on to win the Championship. Jean-Éric Vergne won the title in 2007, followed by Stoffel Vandoorne in 2010, Caio Collet in 2018 and Ayumu Iwasa in 2020. Pierre Gasly, now racing for Alpine in Formula 1, also competed in the series as did Red Bull’s latest driver Isack Hadjar.
French Formula 4 Format
A race weekend in French Formula 4 usually takes place over three days, Friday to Sunday, with free practice sessions on the first day.
Naturally, the qualifying session determines the starting order for the first race while the second fastest time the grid sets the order for the third race. The grid for the second race, however, is set by reversing the top ten finishers of the first race.
Each race lasts twenty minutes plus an additional lap. Tyres are allocated to each driver in sets of four for each race weekend and must last the duration of the race weekend. When it comes down to the points awarded for each race, it’s pretty straightforward. For Race 1 and Race 3, it’s done in the same style as Formula 1. 25 points are awarded to the race winner, 18 for second place, 15 for third and so on down to one point for finishing in tenth place.
Race 2 however is slightly different, as it’s the reverse grid race of the weekend. It sees first place take fifteen points, all the way down to one point for the driver that finishes in P8.
The Car
The French F4 Championship are run 100% French cars that are created in line with the latest safety and performance standards required for the FIA Formula 4 specifications, which includes an identical power to eight ratio. Built by Mygale and FIA-certified since 2021, it is a 100% carbon monohull of the latest generation.
The halo is one of the latest safety features on the car, introduced in 2022 and the Renault Sport 1.3-litre turbocharged direct injection engine is powered by Repsol’s 100% renewable biofuel. It also includes front and rear impact absorbers, anti-intrusion side panels as well as front and rear, hoops, extractable seat, head restrain, wheel retention cables, on-board fire extinguisher and retractable steering column, improved seat and tank safety and crashworthiness, weight savings and improved aerodynamic efficiency are its strengths.
The 2026 French Formula 4 Championship Calendar
The 2026 calendar will be composed of six rounds held between April and October, racing all over France with one stop outside of the country as the series visits the legendary circuit as Spa for the third round of the Championship. Check out the full calendar below:
Round 1 - April 4th – 6th: Circuit de Nogaro
Round 2 - May 15th–17th: Dijon-Prenois
Round 3 - June 19th-21st: Spa-Francorchamps
Round 4 - July 31st – August 2nd: Magny-Cours
Round 5 - September 18th–20th: Lédenon
Round 6 - October 9th – 11th: Le Castellet (Paul-Ricard)
Eight Women Competing This Year
This year, eight women are competing in the French Formula 4 Series. Isabella Abreu, Annabelle Brian, Sofia Zanfari, Clara Stiebleichinger, Autumn Fisher, Angelina Proneca, Ginevra Panzeri and Héloïse Goldberg will all take to the grid and you can learn more about them in our next article which will give you a snapshot view of each driver and why they’re ones to keep an eye on as the season progresses.