Single Seater

FIA Formula 2 Championship

• 11 teams, 25 drivers, 13 events, 28 races
• Final season with the 2018-2023 generation of F2 cars

The 2023 Formula 2 season saw 11 teams and 22 drivers contest 28 races across 14 rounds, starting in Bahrain in March and concluding in Abu Dhabi at the end of November. Once again, all rounds took place alongside Formula 1 on Grand Prix weekends.

The championship was won by French driver Théo Pourchaire who, in his third full F2 campaign, took the title at the final round in Abu Dhabi after a season-long battle with Denmark’s Fredrik Vesti. ART Grand Prix took the teams’ title for the first time, beating Prema Racing.

This year’s competition was the final campaign contested with the Dallara F2 2018 chassis fitted with a 3.4L V6 Mechachrome engine, and away from the track, significant activity was devoted to finetuning the new generation of cars (to be introduced in 2024). At the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Cordoba, Spain in June, minor updates to the Sporting and Technical Regulations were approved, while for regulatory stability and cost-saving reasons, the life cycle of the next generation of chassis will be increased from three to six years. Thus, the new spec FIA Formula 2 chassis will be operational from 2024 to 2029, and in Formula 3 from 2025 to 2030.

FIA Formula 3 Championship

The 2023 FIA Formula 3 season was scheduled for 10 rounds, but was actually contested over nine after Imola was cancelled due to flooding. Bright new star, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, stepped up and won the season, with two wins and six podium finishes.

The teams’ championship was won by Prema Racing, with the Italian team taking its fourth title in the five seasons since the championship was launched.

Away from the track, a number of changes to the Championship’s Sporting Regulations were ratified at the end of 2023. These include the introduction of a curfew preventing work on the car on Friday and Saturday nights during race weekends.

FIA Formula 3 World Cup

Beyond the championship, Formula 3 cars returned to Macau for the first time since 2019. The 70th Macau Grand Prix – FIA F3 World Cup was won by Britain’s Luke Browning, driving for the Hitech Pulse-Eight team.

Formula Regional Championships – certified by the FIA

The second rung on the FIA’s single-seater ladder, Formula Regional Championships – certified by FIA provides young drivers with the opportunity to build from Formula 4 and prepare for global series like FIA Formula 3, FIA Formula 2 and finally FIA Formula 1.

In 2023, five FIA Regional Championships took place in Oceania, Europe, the Americas, Japan and the Middle East. The Asian and Indian Championships, scheduled to take place in Autumn 2023, were not held and are due to be restarted in 2024.

The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship – certified by FIA was successfully integrated into the Formula Regional category. The championship features 20 drivers and was held across five events in January and February 2023.

Throughout 2023, the FIA continued to pursue the consolidation of the Formula Regional Championships concept, while working to keep costs under control. The federation also supported ASNs wishing to restart or launch their own Formula Regional championships.

Finally, at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Cordoba, Spain in June 2023, Technical and Homologation Regulations for the second generation of Formula Region cars were approved. These included a prescribed design for key aerodynamic components to ensure the correct performance level and to achieve the close-following benefits learnt from Formula 1, as well as an update of the survival cell design specifications and modifications of crash test requirements. The introduction of the second generation cars has been delayed until Q1 of 2025.

FIA Formula 4

Launched in 2014, FIA Formula 4 offers young racing drivers the opportunity to take the first step from karting into the world of single-seater racing.

In 2023, there were 13 FIA Formula 4 Championship events, with competitions taking place in China, Brazil, Britain, France, Japan, India, Italy, Spain, the UAE, USA, Mexico, South East Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe. The inaugural Formula 4 CEZ Championship – certified by FIA also got underway this year, gathering eight to ten drivers across each of the six rounds.

The Formula 4 Indian Championship – certified by FIA, was also a first. 16 drivers took part in the event, which took place during November and December 2023. However, it was only possible to host four events due to extreme weather conditions.

Off the track, the FIA presented the F4 Esports concept to ASNs. These efforts mean that the FIA Esports and FIA Single-Seater teams have supported ASNs in launching a total of nine F4 Esports series. The federation also made its partnership with iRacing official.

Finally, in 2023, the FIA continued to analyse financial aspects of the category and examine strict cost control measures. The Federation also researched opportunities for the development of a single seater pathway in Africa.