F4 Germany making a return in 2027
The German junior series “Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club German Formula 4” previously ended its operations in December 2022. Now, after a several-year hiatus, it is preparing to return under the guidance of the FIA. The new series, which will be called German F4, is scheduled to start in 2027. The calendar currently consists of seven race weekends, six of which will take place in Germany and one abroad. During most race weekends, the series will serve as a support series for the already well-known DTM championship.
The series is the direct successor to the previous ADAC F4, which operated from 2015 to 2022. The championship produced several excellent drivers, with past champions including Theo Pourchaire, Roman Stanek, Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli.
The official calendar is not yet confirmed, but it is already certain that six of the seven planned races will take place in Germany. The vast majority will serve as support events for DTM, while the remaining race weekends will take place as part of an ADAC Racing Weekend. The official calendar is expected to be announced during August, but we already know that the championship will begin at the Hockenheimring.
Each race weekend will consist of two qualifying sessions and three races. Each race will last 30 minutes plus one additional lap.
It is also almost certain that the calendar will include other classic German circuits such as the Lausitzring, Norisring, Oschersleben, Nürburgring and Sachsenring. For the international round of the championship, the organizers are choosing between the following circuits: Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Zandvoort in the Netherlands and the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
The provisional calendar is therefore currently expected to look something like this:Hockenheimring, Spa-Francorchamps / Zandvoort / Red Bull Ring, Lausitzring, Norisring, Oschersleben, Nürburgring, Sachsenring. The series is expected to attract drivers primarily because of its prize pool, which promises up to €500,000 in prize money which are being referred to as “prize gold”. The largest share will go to the championship winner, but rewards will also be given to the best drivers of individual weekends, the best rookie, the best female driver, as well as several other categories that are yet to be announced. On top of all this, the championship will also offer 20 extra test days which will serve as pre-season testing with the rest being distributed amongst the season. However, all of these benefits are reflected in the entry fee, which exceeds €300,000 and can get up to €400,000.
“A national Formula 4 series must keep one thing firmly in sight above all else: the development of young talent. During the winter months, we are the leading platform for young drivers to prepare for their championship campaigns. With F4 Germany, we are going a step further: we are supporting particularly talented drivers with a prize pool worth half a million euros!” says Markus Gedlich, founder of GEDLICH Racing.
From a technical perspective, the championship will be similar to other European F4 series. German F4 will use the Tatuus F4-T421 chassis powered by an Abarth engine and fitted with Pirelli tyres, which many fans will already know from championships such as F4 CEZ or F1 Academy. The car produces up to 185 horsepower, while the grid will be limited to 36 drivers. Stefan Lehner (Head of Race Series for GEDLICH Racing) notes: “We have been working with Pirelli for years; there is a long-standing partnership between GEDLICH Racing and this renowned manufacturer. We are very pleased to have Pirelli on board for F4 Germany, bringing their international standards to the German market.”
After a four-year hiatus, Germany is therefore officially getting its junior championship back. The drivers will also be able to benefit from the series' connection with DTM, which should bring significant spectator and media attention. It is also expected that all races will be available to watch for free on YouTube, potentially with English commentary.