Editing Formula One (section)

===Feeder series===
{{See also|Formula racing|FIA Global Pathway from Karting to Formula One}}[[File:FIA F2 Austria 2024 Nr. 12 Colapinto.jpg|thumb|[[FIA Formula 2 Championship]], the main F1 feeder series since [[2017 FIA Formula Two Championship|2017]]]]
[[File:FIA F3 Austria 2024 Nr. 4 Fornaroli.jpg|thumb|[[FIA Formula 3 Championship]], the main F1 and F2 feeder series since [[2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship|2019]]]]
Most F1 drivers start in [[kart racing]] competitions and then progress through traditional entry level European single-seater series such as [[Formula Ford]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nickless |first=Steve |date=2019-01-07 |title=Don't call it a comeback: Formula Ford at 50 is showing fresh legs |url=https://racer.com/2019/01/07/dont-call-it-a-comeback-formula-ford-at-50-is-showing-fresh-legs/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Formula Renault]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2020-11-20 |title=Where Formula Renault is headed next, and how it got there |url=https://formulascout.com/where-formula-renault-is-headed-next-and-how-it-got-there/70938 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Formula 4]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Messham |first=Paul |title=The Path to F1 |url=https://atlasf1.autosport.com/97/jpn/messham.html |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=atlasf1.autosport.com |publisher=[[Autosport]]}}</ref> From there, drivers typically progress to higher level regional championships at the [[Formula Three]] level. This included championships like [[British Formula 3 International Series|British F3]] and [[FIA Formula 3 European Championship|European F3]] historically, although similar series now hold the [[Formula Regional]] designation. In addition to this, there are also international F3 championships, including [[GP3 Series|GP3]] and its present-day successor [[FIA Formula 3 Championship|FIA F3]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolff |first=Perceval |date=2023-02-25 |title=From F4 to F1: The feeder series ladder explained |url=https://feederseries.net/2023/02/25/from-f4-to-f1-the-feeder-series-ladder-explained/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Feeder Series |language=en}}</ref> The highest level series on the F1 ladder is the [[FIA Formula 2 Championship]]. In the past, the top level series was [[GP2 Series|GP2]] (2005–2016), [[International Formula 3000]] (1985–2004 under the [[Formula 3000]] class), and [[Formula Two]] (1948–1984).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiorucci |first=James |date=15 October 2022 |title=The F2 Report: A brief history of Formula 2 |url=https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/10/15/the-f2-report-a-brief-history-of-formula-2/ |access-date=15 March 2025 |website=GRANDPRIX247 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Drivers are not required to have competed at this level before entering Formula One. [[British F3]] has supplied many F1 drivers, with champions, including [[Nigel Mansell]], [[Ayrton Senna]] and [[Mika Häkkinen]] having moved straight from that series to Formula One, and [[Max Verstappen]] made his F1 debut following a single season in [[FIA Formula 3 European Championship|European F3]]. More rarely a driver may be picked from an even lower level, as was the case with [[2007 Formula One World Championship|2007]] World Champion [[Kimi Räikkönen]], who went straight from Formula Renault to F1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Five F1 champions who wouldn't have made their debuts|url=http://www.crash.net/f1/feature/212868/1/five-f1-champions-who-wouldnt-have-made-their-debuts.html|website=crash.net|publisher=Crash Media Group|date=8 January 2015|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002165320/http://www.crash.net/f1/feature/212868/1/five-f1-champions-who-wouldnt-have-made-their-debuts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[American open-wheel car racing]] has also contributed to the Formula One grid. [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]] champions [[Mario Andretti]] and [[Jacques Villeneuve]] became F1 World Champions, while [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] won seven races in F1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Drivers active in both IndyCar and F1 |url=https://honda.racing/indy-car-series/post/drivers-in-both-indycar-and-f1 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=[[Honda Racing Corporation]] |language=en-US}}</ref>