The FIA Formula 4 category was initiated in March 2013 by Gerhard Berger and the FIA Single Seater Commission to create a transparent path for young drivers. To maintain accessibility, costs were strictly regulated: cars were capped at €30,000 and a full season's costs were not to exceed €100,000. The ADAC championship was formally announced on July 16, 2014, as part of the second phase of global Formula 4 launches, following the Italian F4 Championship and Formula 4 Sudamericana.
During its peak, ADAC F4 was considered a prestigious series alongside its Italian counterpart, with grids exceeding 20 cars as recently as 2019. However, the series entered a period of decline following the pandemic. By 2022, the series transitioned to a second-generation car, but full-time entries dropped significantly, with only five full-time drivers and a season-ending grid of eleven cars at the Nürburgring.
From its inception, the series utilized chassis designed and built by the Italian constructor Tatuus. The cars featured a carbon fibre monocoque construction. In 2022, the series introduced the Tatuus F4-T021, which incorporated the halo head protection device. Throughout its history, the cars were powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged Abarth engine, the same unit employed in the Italian F4 series. Pirelli served as the sole tyre supplier.
Race weekends typically consisted of two 15-minute qualifying sessions and three races. The grid for the third race was determined by the finishing order of the second race, with the top eight positions reversed. Points were awarded to the top ten finishers using a scale where the winner received 25 points, similar to the Formula 1 system but without a bonus point for the fastest lap. The series recognized three distinct titles: a Drivers' Championship, a Teams' Championship, and a Rookie Championship. Rookie drivers were distinguished by red car numbers, while other competitors used black numbers.
Following the 2022 season, speculation regarding the series' future grew due to a lack of a 2023 calendar and the ADAC's takeover of the DTM on December 2, 2022. On December 3, the ADAC confirmed the championship would not be advertised for 2023, citing high costs and declining driver participation.
To fill the void, ACI Sport announced a new European series called Euro 4, while the ADAC established the "ADAC Formula Junior Team" to place German talent in the French F4 Championship. Notable graduates of ADAC F4 who reached Formula 1 include Lando Norris, Mick Schumacher, and Zhou Guanyu.
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