U.S. Ladder to Formula 1 Starts with F4 U.S. Championship and FR Americas
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 15, 2025) – America’s Road to F1 continues to gain momentum as United States-based teams and drivers make significant strides toward motorsport’s highest level. With the Cadillac Formula 1 Team set to join the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team on the Formula 1 grid in 2026, the U.S. will soon be represented by two teams on the world stage. Further fueling the momentum, American Colton Herta has signed as a test driver for the Cadillac F1 Team and is rumored to be making the jump to Formula 2 this coming season.
While so much of the spotlight is focused on the top tiers of the F1 ladder, the true Road to Formula 1 begins much earlier. Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) and Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) serve as critical first steps, where drivers as young as 15 begin their journey. Certified by the FIA, these series not only develop emerging talent, but also award the essential FIA Super License Points that are needed to progress toward a future in Formula 1.
“F4 U.S. and FR Americas continue to be the training ground for American racers looking to make it to Formula 1, as racing on our ladder is one of the most effective ways to accumulate the Super License Points needed to make it to F1,” said Scott Goodyear, former INDYCAR driver and now President/Race Director of FR Americas and F4 U.S. “FR Americas continues to be the highest-paying series for FIA Super License Points in North America. If a driver wins the F4 U.S. Championship, followed by the FR Americas Championship, then all they need to do is finish in the top three of the INDY NXT standings to accumulate the 40 Super License Points required to reach F1.”
With the lowest cost per mile compared to other professional racing series in North America, as well as other Formula 4 and Formula Regional Championships around the globe, FR Americas and F4 U.S. continue to attract global attention and talent. Racers competing on PMH’s Open Wheel Ladder, which is comprised of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC), represents six different continents and a dozen nations in 2025, allowing drivers to compare themselves to the best talent from around the world.
Furthermore, the unique value proposition offered by FR Americas and F4 U.S. has garnered the attention of teams like Chip Ganassi Racing, who partnered with Kiwi Motorsport, a two-time FR Americas Team Champion and six-time F4 U.S. Team Champion, for its driver development program. Drivers like Bruno Ribeiro and Cooper Shipman are both part of the program, and as the current points leaders in FR Americas and F4 U.S., respectively, they could make significant progress in accumulating Super License Points with a championship title this season.
Drivers continue to chase their F1 dreams when FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC unload at VIRginia International Raceway later this week. With the penultimate round of the season about to commence, championship titles, FIA Super License Points and the realization of their F1 ambitions are all on the line.
