F4 is an entry-level single-seater series for racers who are moving up from karting. Regulations are extremely strict to keep costs under control. There are several regional F4 championships around the world, such as the Formula 4 South-East Asia.
At present, there are several Formula 3 championships around the world, with the European F3 sitting at the top of the crown. Dallara is the sole chassis supplier for F3, while both Mercedes and Volkswagen produce engines according to a specific set of regulations.
GP3 series offers slightly better performance as compared to Formula 3 with the added advantage of races taking place on F1 weekends. The FIA plans to merge F3 with GP3 to form a new International F3 championship.
As the name suggests, Formula 2 (previously GP2) sits directly below F1 in the racing ladder. It's a one-make championship with a sole chassis, engine and tyre supplier. The series will introduce a new car next year, whose 3.4-litre turbocharged engine will be capable of producing 620 bhp.
Super Formula is Japan's premier single-seater series and attracts some big local and international drivers. Since 2014, it has been using the Dallara-made SF14 chassis, paired with 2.0-litre turbocharged engines from Honda and Toyota. It is the fastest racing series after Formula 1.
Formula 1 is the biggest and the most prestigious racing series in the world. Each team builds their own chassis, while Mercedes, Honda, Ferrari and Renault supply the engine. Apart from Honda, the remaining three engine manufacturers have their own teams. Since it was started in 1950, F1 has gone through various set of rules. Currently, it uses a 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine, with power output reportedly crossing the 1,000 bhp mark.
USF2000 is effectively the American equivalent of F4. It's part of the Road to Indy racing ladder which takes drivers all the way up to Indycar, America's top single-seater series. From the start of this year, USF2000 uses the Tatuus USF-17 car, which is an incremental version of its predecessor, Tatuus F4-1014.
Formula Mazda sits one level above USF2000 and uses a PM-18 chassis and a Renesis 1300cc rotary engine.
Indy Lights is to IndyCar what F2 is to F1. Indy Lights currently features a Mazda-AER 2.0-litre engine, mated to a semi-automatic sequential gearbox.
IndyCar is America's biggest single-seater series. The iconic Indy 500 race is part of the annual IndyCar calendar. The championship is limited to a single Dallara-made chassis, but teams have an option of choosing between Honda and Chevrolet engines.
Super5000 is a brand new championship launched by the Australian Touring Car Championship. The cars have a retro look, reminiscent of the Super5000 cars of the 1970s. To save costs, the Super5000 cars are powered by the same engine as used in the Supercars series.
Formula E is the world's first electric racing series. It's inaugural season was in 2014-15. The championship has become popular lately due to influx of manufacturers, including India's Mahindra and the Tata-owned Jaguar. Mercedes and Porsche are also joining the series in the coming seasons.
Started in 1971, Formula Renault has proven to be an important single-seater category before the drivers leap to F3 or event F2. There are at present two Formula Renault champions, the Northern European Cup (NEC) and the main Eurocup.
Formerly known as the Formula Renault 3.5 series, it features a Dallara T12 chassis and a 3.4-litre V8 engine developed by Zytek. Several F1 drivers have stepped up to F1 from V8 3.5.
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