Formula Three has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone for F1 hopefuls - it is typically the first point in a driver's career at which most drivers in the series are aiming at professional careers in racing rather than being amateurs and enthusiasts.
Most notably in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Italian F3 championship produced drivers who graduated to Formula One to varying success.
As of 2010, the last Italian Formula Three driver to graduate to Formula One was 1994 Italian F3 champion Giancarlo Fisichella, who debuted with Minardi's F1 team in 1996.
Other champions include successful World Sportscar driver Max Angelelli (1992 series champion) and Riccardo Patrese.
In December 2012, CSAI (the Italian motorsports commission) announced it would cancel the Formula 3 championship[1] to focus on Formula Abarth.