Written by Lorenzo Baer, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
For the first time since the inception of Formula 4 championships, the FIA is set to recognise a national championship accepting more than one model of chassis for its competitions.
After an unexpected return in 2024, Formula 4 Australia has been looking for new solutions that help popularize the category within the country.
The big problem with the 2024 edition, as was the case in previous seasons of the F4 championship staged down-under, was the chronic lack of interested parties, who could populate the category's grids.
The new organizer of the tournament, AGI Sports – which replaces the Chinese holding company TopSpeed from 2025 onwards – sought a creative solution to overcome this problem.
The solution involves becoming the first FIA licensed category to have F4 races with a multi-chassis system.
This means both the Mygale M14-F4 models, used by F4 Australia between 2015-2019, and the recently used Tatuus F4-T421, in use since 2024, will be accepted for Australian F4 races in 2025.
To maintain competitiveness between both chassis types, it was decided to create a division structure, separating drivers by the chassis they opted to use.
Each sub-division and category has its own prerequisites, varying according to age and on-track experience of the driver.
The AGI Sports project carries many similarities to another low-level category of Australian motorsport, known as Formula Open.
Despite not being recognised by the FIA as a grassroots tournament, the Formula Open presents an interesting concept of allowing different chassis from the same category of single-seater open-wheelers to compete against each other.
The category even features an exclusive division for F4 cars, with the GEN1 Mygale and Tatuus cars competing against each other on equal terms.
How will the 2025 Australian F4 championship work with multiple chassis?
The Generation 1 and Generation 2 F4 cars will be separated into two groups on the grid, with the GEN2 cars starting at the front half of the grid.
This measure is taken to guarantee the safety of the GEN1 and GEN2 cars, with the most experienced drivers and powerful cars having preference in the starting procedure.
The change between the old F4 Australia format in 2024, and the new one to be used in 2025 have been made to aid racers stepping up from karting, and who are seeking crucial race mileage before competing in other F4 Championships locally and abroad.
To assist the pathway for drivers coming out of karting and other grassroots categories, the minimum age to race in the series has been lowered to 14. These youngsters will be driving GEN1 Mygale M14-F4 chassis in a separate F4 Junior class.
Drivers aged 14 will be permitted to test the GEN2 Tatuus car only in a non-competitive testing environment, preparing themselves to race Gen 2 cars when they turn 15.
Teams are allowed unlimited testing time in 2025, primarily to encourage young drivers to be as prepared as possible before venturing into overseas formula racing series.
Classes & age ranges by car and class
Australian F4 Championship
Chassis: Tatuus F4-T421
Engine: Abarth 414TF 1.4L
Minimum Age: 15 years-of-age, and above
Australian F4 GEN1 Junior Cup
Chassis: Mygale M14-F4
Engine: Ford 1.6L EcoBoost
Minimum Age: 14 years-of-age
Maximum Age: Up to, and including, 17 years-of-age
Australian F4 GEN1 Masters Cup & Australian F4 GEN2 Masters Cup
GEN2 Chassis: Tatuus F4-T421 (Abarth)
GEN1 Chassis: Mygale M14-F4 (Ford)
Minimum Age: 18 years-of-age, and above
The structure of the 2025 Australian F4 Championship
The Australian F4 Championship will be promoted in 2025 by AGI Sport, a long-standing partner of the tournament, with the team present in the Australian F4 scene since the championship commenced in 2015.
AGI Sport will continue to serve as an active constructor, now taking over the task of being the tournament’s main promoter, with Motorsport Australia delegated the responsibility of enforcing the sporting and technical regulations.
It’s worth remembering that the AGI currently also runs F4 programmes and teams across other parts of the world, such as Asia, Middle East, UAE and USA.
The team also serves as a technical partner of Motorsport Australia’s Ferrari Driver Academy in the Asia-Pacific Selection Program.
Reflecting this change for the 2025 Australian F4 Championship, AGI, in partnership with Motorsport Australia, will offer a number of cups and rewards for the drivers in different classes.
The Masters Cups will be awarded to the GEN1 and GEN2 drivers aged 18 and above, while the Junior Cup will be limited to drivers aged 14–17 in GEN1 cars only.
The overall Australian Formula 4 Championship title will be eligible for drivers in GEN2 cars only.
Multiple team structures are also available, varying by driver needs. Drivers can elect to purchase a car outright and run it privately, or select a team run and prepare the owner’s vehicle.
A team can also provide a car for a driver to lease and race in an ‘arrive-and-drive’ format.
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