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Weekend Debrief: From Barcelona's title battles to the challenges of Sepang and Interlagos
Four championships across Europe, Asia and South America: titles decided in Barcelona, a reshuffled order in the Formula Trophy Malaysia and standout performances in the Brazilian round at Interlagos.From title celebrations in Europe to the end-of-season battles in Asia and South America, the weekend brought four championships and four different stories from the track. GB3 and F4 Spain brought their seasons to a close in Barcelona, while the Formula Trophy Malaysia headed to Sepang and F4 Brazil joined the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend at Interlagos.
GB3
The 2026 GB3 Championship came to an end at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the Drivers' and Teams' titles going to Nikita Bedrin and VRD Racing respectively. Bedrin laid the foundations for his success by taking pole position in Q1, his seventh of the season, which also earned him the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup. In Q2, it was debutant Lewis Wherrell of JHR Developments who set the fastest time, edging Fred Green by just 0.030 seconds.
In Race 1, Bedrin had to fight his way back to the lead after losing the position to Rowan Campbell-Pilling at the start. His move at Turn 2 put him back in front and paved the way for his seventh win of the season, enough to mathematically secure the championship. Campbell-Pilling finished second ahead of Lucas Fluxá , while Flynn Jackes and Wherrell completed the top five.
The battle between Bedrin and Wherrell continued in Race 2, with the VRD driver once again coming out on top thanks to an outside pass with just three corners remaining. Wherrell held on to second, followed by Abbi Pulling , while Green confirmed the pace he had shown in qualifying with fourth place, his best result in the category.
The final race saw Campbell-Pilling claim his second victory of the year, ahead of Jackes and Bedrin. The champion's podium finish also proved decisive for VRD Racing, securing the team its first Teams' Championship title. The fight for second in the Drivers' standings was settled too: Deagen Fairclough, who climbed from 18th to sixth in the final race, finished as runner-up, just three points ahead of Fluxá, who dropped to 20th.
F4 SPAIN
F4 Spain also brought its 2026 season to a close at Barcelona, where Kasper Schormans secured the Drivers' title with two races still remaining. The MP Motorsport driver completed his rookie season with his first single-seater championship, following in the footsteps of Mattia Colnaghi, who also claimed the title as a rookie in 2024.
The championship was mathematically decided after Race 1, thanks to the gap Schormans had built over Noah Monteiro , his main title rival. Schormans finished the opening race 13th, while the Portuguese driver's eighth-place result left him unable to make up the necessary points over the remaining two races. Vivek Kanthan took the win, followed by Nathan Tye and Rocco Coronel.
The remaining races brought different names to the forefront. Elliot Kaczynski claimed Race 2, taking the lead in the early stages and holding off Kanthan and Andrej Petrović. The Drivex driver remained among the frontrunners in the final race, finishing second behind his teammate Tye, who secured his first win of the weekend. Nacho Tuñón completed the podium.
For Schormans, the Barcelona finale marked the culmination of a consistently strong season, capped by a championship secured in his first year in the category.
F4 BRAZIL
F4 Brazil headed to Interlagos for the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, with a non-championship event that saw Fabrício Fogaça emerge as the main protagonist. The Cavaleiro Sports driver, who usually competes in Italian F4, secured pole position for both Race 1 and Race 3, converting them into two victories.
In the opening race, Fogaça had to fend off attacks from Celo Hahn and debutant Vicky Farfus , holding on to the lead all the way to the finish. His margin over Hahn was just 0.295 seconds, with Farfus taking third and making an immediate impression in her first appearance in the category.
Race 2, held in wet conditions, never got underway competitively and finished behind the Safety Car. Luiz Queiroz, Gianni Giovanelli and Federico Díaz therefore occupied the top three positions.
Fogaça returned to the top step in the final race after losing the lead to Naim Saleh at the start. He reclaimed first place with a move at Turn 4 halfway through the race and gradually built a gap, eventually finishing 3.7 seconds ahead of Farfus. Hahn completed the podium, followed by Saleh.
For Farfus, making her debut in the category, the weekend ended with two podium finishes and second place in the event standings, level on points with Hahn. Fogaça topped the classification with 42 points, rounding off a standout weekend at Interlagos.
FORMULA TROPHY MALAYSIA
The second round of the Formula Trophy Malaysia at Sepang reshaped the championship standings. Iñigo Anton took the lead with a win and a second-place finish, while LN4 Fusion celebrated its competitive debut with Jesse Phillips' Race 2 victory.
Anton had already made his mark in qualifying, taking pole position for both Race 1 and Race 3 with more than half a second over teammate Jaime Ambrose . He carried that pace into the opening race, securing the win by more than ten seconds over the chasing pack.
Race 2, meanwhile, delivered a close finish. Starting from the front row thanks to the reversed grid, Phillips stayed close to race leader Chen Sicong throughout, before capitalising on his rival's mistake at the final corner to take the victory. A significant result for LN4 Fusion in its first weekend in the category. Rafael Vaessen completed the podium.
Rain featured in Race 3, where Timo Jüngling of Xcel Motorsport came out on top, finishing ahead of Anton and Ambrose. His victory made him the fifth different race winner of the season.
Updated Championship Standings
Iñigo Anton – 61 points Timo Jüngling – 43 points Juste Mulder – 43 points
News
Weekend Preview: Five Championships and New Champions Ready to Be Crowned on Track
From title battles to events outside the regular championship calendar: five racing appointments for Tatuus single-seaters across Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East.Four championships, five different scenarios, one common thread: Tatuus cars on track. In Barcelona, GB3 and the F4 Spanish Championship are preparing to decide their remaining titles, while in Interlagos, F4 Brasiliana will take part in its traditional event alongside Formula 1. F4 Saudi Arabia returned to action earlier this week, while Formula Trophy Malaysia is preparing to head back to Sepang.
GB3
The GB3 Championship is preparing to bring its 2026 season to a close at a new and exciting venue. On 7–8 November, the series will make its debut at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the final titles of the season will be decided. Nikita Bedrin heads to Spain as the Drivers’ Championship leader with 445 points, but the title fight remains wide open, with Deagen Fairclough second on 356 points, Lucas Fluxá third on 355 and Martin Molnar fourth on 351. With an 89-point gap between the leader and Fairclough and three races still to go, several scenarios remain possible, with all four drivers mathematically in contention for the title. The Teams’ Championship is also still undecided: Rodin Motorsport leads with 758 points, just 16 ahead of VRD Racing , while Hitech and Xcel Motorsport retain mathematical chances of joining the battle. Barcelona will therefore host a double title fight, with both the drivers’ and teams’ honours still up for grabs.
The Barcelona round will also welcome several new faces, with four drivers set to make their GB3 race debuts. JHR Developments will line up with Lewis Wherrell and Thomas Ingram-Hill . Wherrell arrives after a strong British F4 campaign with the team, while Ingram-Hill brings experience from Ginetta Junior, British F4 and GB4. Hitech will give Theo Palmer a new challenge following his runner-up finish in the 2026 British F4 Championship, where he secured three victories and played an important role in the team's Teams’ Championship success. Completing the group is Ary Bansal , who will make his debut with TJ Speed Motorsports , a team also making its first appearance in the category. The Indian driver arrives after winning the GB4 title in 2025 and finishing sixth in the 2026 Italian F4 Championship, with victories at Mugello and Misano. For all four drivers, the Barcelona finale will be their first opportunity to experience the performance and aerodynamic load of the MSV-GB3-025, as well as a valuable chance to gain mileage and experience ahead of the next steps in their careers.
Schedule
Saturday o 10:55 – Qualifying 1 o 11:15 – Qualifying 2 o 15:00 – Race 1
Sunday o 11:10 – Race 2 o 14:50 – Race 3
All race sessions will be streamed live on the official MSV YouTube channel.
F4 SPANISH
The F4 Spanish Championship is also preparing to bring its 2026 season to a close in Barcelona, from 6–8 November, with both the Drivers’ and Rookie titles still to be decided. Three races will determine the champions of a season that has taken the series across Spain and Portugal.
Kasper Schormans heads to Catalonia with a 53-point advantage over Noah Monteiro , following a clean sweep of all three victories at the previous round in Navarra. The Dutch driver leads the standings with 256 points, ahead of Campos Racing driver Monteiro on 203. Rocco Coronel sits third with 181 points, followed by Borys Lyzen (170) and Andrej Petrovic (152). Monteiro will be looking to keep the title fight alive until the final race, while Schormans has three opportunities to turn his advantage into the championship.
The overall championship leader also tops the Rookie standings, putting himself in contention for a double title. Coronel is his closest challenger, 75 points behind, followed by Lyzen. The last driver to win both titles in the same season was Mattia Colnaghi in 2024. In 2025, the two honours went to different drivers, with Thomas Strauven claiming the overall championship and Ean Eyckmans taking the Rookie title. Schormans could therefore achieve the same double success once again, two years after Colnaghi.
Schedule
Saturday o 09:00 – Qualifying 1 o 12:00 – Race 1 o 15:55 – Race 2
Sunday o 09:00 – Qualifying 2 o 12:50 – Race 3
All sessions will be streamed live on the official F4 Spanish Championship YouTube channel.
F4 BRAZIL
Formula 4 Brasiliana is set to take part in another special event, returning to the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos during the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. This year's event will once again take place outside the regular championship calendar, bringing together some of Brazil's most promising young motorsport talents at one of the most iconic circuits on the international calendar. It will give the drivers the opportunity to race in front of the Formula 1 crowd and experience the atmosphere of a major motorsport event, made even more special by the celebrations surrounding newly crowned World Champion Kimi Antonelli.
For further updates and information about the schedule, follow the official Formula 4 Brazil social media channels.
F4 SAUDI ARABIA
F4 Saudi Arabia held the fourth round of its season on 3–4 November at the Bahrain circuit, before heading to Lusail, Qatar, for the next championship round. Archie Owen set the pace in qualifying, securing both pole positions. Isaac Seah claimed the Race 1 victory, finishing ahead of Owen and Harrison Mackie . The British driver then bounced back to take the win in Race 2, this time ahead of Seah and Amin Kara Osman . The series will return to action on 8–9 December at Lusail, as the championship continues at the Qatari venue.
FORMULA TROPHY MALAYSIA
Formula Trophy Malaysia returns to Sepang for the second round of the season, marking the halfway point of a championship made up of three events. Following the opening round at the same circuit, the drivers are set to return to the track for another weekend of racing, with the leading positions in the standings still closely contested. Juste Mulder leads with 43 points, followed by Marco Manson on 35 and Hoai Nam Anh Nguyen on 33. With just 10 points separating the top three, the second round will be an important step towards the season finale.
Schedule
Saturday o 12:45 – Qualifying 1 o 13:05 – Qualifying 2 o 16:55 – Race 1
Sunday o 09:15 – Race 2 o 15:30 – Race 3
For further updates and live coverage of the sessions, follow the championship's official Instagram page.
News
Weekend Debrief: Sammalisto sets a record as F4 NACAM races on the day of Antonelli’s triumph
The Italian F4 season finale, another F4 Saudi round and F4 NACAM’s championship decider in Mexico City, taking place alongside Kimi Antonelli’s triumph.It was an international weekend split between Bahrain, where F4 Saudi held another round of its season, Mugello, where the Italian F4 season came to an end, and Mexico City, where F4 NACAM’s young drivers had the opportunity to witness Kimi Antonelli’s triumph up close after battling for their own championship title.
F4 ITALY
The 2026 Italian F4 Championship season came to a close at Mugello with a final weekend full of excitement and decisive moments. A total of 49 drivers, 13 teams and 25 nationalities took part in the championship, further confirming the success of a season that broke the category’s all-time participation record worldwide.
The standout performer was Luka Sammalisto , who secured the title before the final round and finished the season with 12 victories. At Mugello, the US Racing driver completed a clean sweep, winning Race 1, Race 2 and the Final. The latter, held in wet conditions, was decided by a last-corner overtake on Elia Weiss. With his 12th win of the season, Sammalisto equalled Dennis Hauger’s 2019 record , before Andrea Kimi Antonelli surpassed it in 2022 . Behind him, David Cosma Cristofor finished second overall in the championship, while the Rookie title went to Kenzo Craigie , who prevailed over Alp Aksoy in their battle during the final round.
The season finale also delivered Elia Weiss’s first-ever Italian F4 victory, as he took the honours in Race 3 ahead of Cosma Cristofor and Andy Consani . Cosma Cristofor had already secured pole position for both Race 2 and Race 3, confirming his status as one of the leading contenders of the weekend and the season.
This brought a highly successful Italian F4 Championship season to a close, with the Mugello finale carrying particular significance. It was on the Tuscan circuit, among its rolling hills, that Kimi Antonelli had won the championship back in 2022.
F4 SAUDI ARABIA
F4 Saudi Arabia also saw the Tatuus T-421 cars return to the track for another round of the season. Isaac Seah and Archie Owen shared the top two positions in both races, confirming themselves as the leading contenders of the weekend. Seah secured both pole positions and the Race 2 victory, while Owen responded by winning Race 1 after finishing second in both qualifying sessions. Harrison Mackie also made it onto the Race 1 podium, taking third place, a result he repeated in Race 2. Amin Kara Osman and Zakaria Doleh completed the top three in the two qualifying sessions respectively.
The lights remain on in Bahrain, with another round already underway from 3 to 4 November .
F4 NACAM
F4 NACAM brought its 2026 season to a close at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. It was a special occasion for the championship, whose young drivers had the opportunity to race in front of the Formula 1 crowd and witness Kimi Antonelli’s triumph . The weekend began with Fernando Rivera of RAM Racing taking pole position, setting the fastest qualifying time ahead of Marco Alquicira and reigning champion Alex Bobadilla . Oliver Trejo, also representing RAM Racing, went on to win Race 1, ahead of Alessandros Racing drivers Alan Zezatti and Leonardo Mancera . Race 2 saw Zezatti take victory, finishing ahead of his teammate Bobadilla, while Alquicira completed the podium. This brought the 2026 season to a close, with Alex Bobadilla confirmed at the top of the standings after finishing third last year. The Alessandros Racing driver ended the championship with 278 points, ahead of Zezatti in second with 229 and Trejo in third with 185.
Stories
Kimi Antonelli: The Journey to the Formula 1 World Championship
From his early days in karting to his Formula 4 and Formula Regional titles, Kimi Antonelli's journey also highlights the contribution of Tatuus, ATM and all the Korus companies that have supported his sporting development.In motorsport, great careers begin long before reaching the Formula 1 spotlight and the fireworks of World Championship celebrations. Kimi Antonelli 's story, as is so often the case, starts in karting, with titles and victories that continue into single-seater racing, always alongside the brands that are now part of Korus Group. BirelART, Kart Republic, IAME, LeCont, Tatuus, Autotecnica Motori and Breda Racing : each has played a role in this remarkable story of Italian motorsport, culminating in a World Championship title and ready to unfold through many more exciting chapters in the years ahead.
THE KARTING ERA
Kimi Antonelli's karting story began in 2015, when, at just eight years old, he made his debut in the Easykart 60 category and immediately claimed the Trofeo Easykart Italia and the Easykart International Grand Final . It was through the championship organised by Birel that his journey began, eventually leading him, following his first contact with Mercedes, to join the Kart Republic family and quickly establish himself among the most promising young talents in international karting. After his first successes, he dominated the OK-Junior category in 2019, claiming four WSK titles, the Italian Championship and second place in the FIA Karting European Championship.
Moving up to the OK category in 2020 marked another important milestone. Driving a KR kart powered by an IAME engine, Antonelli won the FIA European Championship , the WSK Euro Series and his second Italian title . He confirmed that success in 2021, winning the OK European Championship once again to become back-to-back champion, with three victories in the four rounds on the calendar. An impressive karting chapter, filled with success, came to a close.
THE MOVE ON TO TATUUS SINGLE-SEATERS
2021 marked Kimi Antonelli's transition from karting to single-seater racing. Just a few days after turning 15, he made his debut in the Italian Formula 4 Championship with PREMA Racing, competing in the final three rounds of the season at the wheel of the Tatuus T-014 , powered by the ATM-Abarth 1.4-litre turbo engine producing 174 hp . It took just a handful of races for him to show his potential: at Monza, he finished on the podium in all three races of the weekend and ended his first single-seater campaign with four Rookie class victories. A debut already full of promising signs ahead of the following season, just like his performance at the Federal Supercourse, where he was named Best Driver on 10 November of the same year. In December, he also secured a podium finish at the Formula 4 Middle East Trophy Round in Abu Dhabi, the very first race for the new T-421.
In 2022, he took on his first full Formula 4 season, once again at the wheel of the T-421. It was a year packed with success from the very beginning in the United Arab Emirates, where Antonelli won the first two races at Yas Marina and secured three more podium finishes across the two rounds he contested in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. However, it was in the Italian and ADAC championships that he put together a truly outstanding season. In Italy , he dominated with 13 wins from 20 races , claiming the overall title. His achievement was backed by impressive statistics: 14 pole positions and 14 fastest laps, along with two second-place finishes, bringing his total podium count to 15. The title was secured at Mugello, where Antonelli completed a clean sweep of all three races in the final weekend, having already taken both pole positions in qualifying. The story was much the same in Germany: nine victories and seven pole positions, with the ADAC title clinched at the Nürburgring with one race to spare, despite having competed in one fewer round than his main rivals. With 22 victories across the two championships, Antonelli wrapped up his first full year in single-seaters with two titles and one of the most dominant seasons in Formula 4 history.
His 2022 campaign also brought another major international achievement at the FIA Motorsport Games , where he represented Italy in the Formula 4 competition and won the gold medal at the Le Castellet circuit.
THE FORMULA REGIONAL SEASON
In 2023, Kimi Antonelli took another step forward by moving up to Formula Regional . His first challenge of the season once again came in the Middle East Championship , where he competed with Mumbai Falcons Racing at the wheel of the Tatuus T-318 , powered by the ATM-Alfa Romeo 1750 engine . He immediately showed that he could fight at the front in this new category, securing three victories, three pole positions and five podiums to build a decisive lead over his rivals. He clinched the title at Yas Marina with one race to spare, in a championship contested as a rookie and marking his third consecutive single-seater title.
The challenge continued in Europe, where Antonelli returned to the track with PREMA to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship . Driving the Tatuus T-318 powered by Alpine, he faced an international field and rivals with considerably more experience in the category. After a promising start to the season, with strong results but no victory just yet, his breakthrough came at Spa-Francorchamps. From that point onwards, he stepped up another gear: he secured four more victories over the following five rounds, building the kind of consistency that would become one of his greatest strengths. Across 20 races, he recorded five wins, four pole positions, five fastest laps and 11 podiums, scoring 300 points and finishing outside the top six on just two occasions.
The decisive moment came at Zandvoort on 15 October 2023. In Race 2, on a wet track and starting from eighth on the grid, Antonelli produced an outstanding comeback to take victory and mathematically secure the European title with two races still to go. By the end of the season, he had claimed two Formula Regional titles in a single year, one in the Middle East and one in Europe. An achievement that confirmed the progress he had made since his karting days and continued through Formula 4 with Tatuus and ATM, once again bringing their cars and engines to the top of the competition.
That season marked the end of his journey through the Tatuus single-seater categories. In 2024, Antonelli made the direct move to Formula 2 , skipping Formula 3, before stepping up to Formula 1 with Mercedes in 2025. A journey that began in Birel and KR karts and developed through Tatuus single-seaters and ATM engines, ultimately reaching the most coveted milestone of all: becoming a Formula 1 World Champion in 2026.
News
Weekend Preview: Three F4 Championships Take to the Track Across Three Continents
From the battles for the Rookie and Women’s Trophy titles in Italy to the final round of the Mexican season and another round of F4 Saudi Arabia, three Formula 4 championships will take centre stage this weekend.Tatuus cars return to the track this weekend across three different continents, with Formula 4 taking centre stage. The Italian F4 Championship will contest its season finale at Mugello, the F4 NACAM will bring its season to a close in Mexico City, and F4 Saudi Arabia will head to Bahrain for the third round of the 2026 season.
F4 ITALY
Mugello will host the final round of the 2026 Italian F4 Championship this weekend, bringing a season featuring young talents from around the world to a close. With the drivers’ title already secured by Luka Sammalisto and the teams’ championship awarded to US Racing , attention now turns to the remaining standings, which will be decided in the final races of the season. Almost 50 drivers, representing 13 teams and 25 nationalities, are set to take to the Tuscan circuit for one last international showdown.
The closest battle is for the Rookie title, with Alp Aksoy of Prema Racing leading the standings ahead of Kenzo Craigie of R-ace GP . The pair are separated by just 17 points, leaving the fight wide open heading into the final round. Aksoy, recently announced as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, will aim to defend the advantage he has built throughout the season, while Craigie, a member of the Mercedes junior programme, arrives at Mugello having already secured the E4 Championship title.
The Women’s Trophy also remains to be decided, with Emma Felbermayr of PHM Racing leading Californian driver Payton Westcott of R-ace GP . Her 56-point advantage puts the Austrian in a favourable position heading into the weekend, although the standings are not yet fully settled. Westcott, meanwhile, will look to make the most of the final races to close the gap and finish the season with the strongest result possible.
Weekend schedule
Friday 15:10 – Qualifying
Saturday 10:05 – Race 1 14:40 – Race 2
Sunday 08:40 – Race 3 12:15 – Final
All races will be broadcast live on ACI Sport TV and on the championship’s YouTube channel.
F4 NACAM
F4 NACAM is set to return to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, taking place from 30 October to 1 November. A total of 14 cars will line up for the final round of the 2026 season, marking the Mexican championship’s eleventh appearance as a support series to Formula 1.
Competing during a Grand Prix weekend represents an important opportunity for the category’s young drivers, allowing them to race on an internationally renowned circuit in front of a large crowd and gain exposure on one of the biggest stages in motorsport.
The drivers’ title has already been secured by Alex Bobadilla of Alessandros Racing , who mathematically clinched the championship at the previous round in Puebla, held as part of the GT Challenge . The final event will therefore give the remaining competitors the opportunity to finish the season on a high at one of the most prominent events on the Mexican motorsport calendar.
The Mexico City weekend will bring the 2026 F4 NACAM season to a close, with 14 drivers ready to make the most of their final opportunities of the year on the Formula 1 stage.
Weekend schedule
Saturday 09:25 – Qualifying 16:45 – Race 1
Sunday 11:05 – Race 2
F4 SAUDI ARABIA
Following the races in Jeddah, F4 Saudi Arabia is set to return to the track in Bahrain for the third round of the 2026 season.
Marlon Bayer currently leads the standings with 83 points, but Archie Owen is just three points behind. The upcoming round will therefore be an important opportunity for both drivers: Bayer will aim to defend his lead, while Owen will look to overtake him and shift the championship balance in his favour.
With such a narrow gap between the two, the Bahrain round could prove significant in the title fight, with plenty still to play for as the season unfolds.
News
Weekend Review: Titles Settled, New Winners and an Unforgettable Championship Finale
Alisha Palmowski and Elia Weiss are crowned 2026 champions, as Austin and the Hungaroring deliver new winners and plenty of talking points to close out the season.One title decided in Texas, another championship settled in Hungary, and plenty of stories to tell. F1 Academy and F4 CEZ experienced a weekend of decisive results, maiden victories and strong performances, with Tatuus machinery at the heart of the action at both circuits.
F1 ACADEMY
The Austin weekend saw Alisha Palmowski crowned 2026 F1 Academy champion after three races featuring close battles and three different winners. The Red Bull Racing driver began the weekend by securing both pole positions, after her fastest lap was initially deleted for exceeding track limits before being reinstated. She then carried that pace into the Opening Race, holding off pressure from Alba Larsen to claim her fifth victory of the season.
The Reverse Grid Race mathematically secured the title for Palmowski, who climbed from eighth to second place. Ahead of her, Larsen celebrated her maiden victory in the series, while Lisa Billard completed the podium to secure the first top-three finish of her F1 Academy career. Nina Gademan took the final win of the weekend, making an outside pass at Turn 1 and managing the final restart effectively to finish ahead of Payton Westcott and Natalia Granada.
With the Drivers’ Championship decided, the Teams’ title remains open. Campos Racing continues to lead, but MP Motorsport has reduced the gap and will have one final opportunity to turn the standings around at the season finale in Las Vegas. Austin therefore marked a decisive stage of the championship, with one final title still to be settled before the season concludes.
F4 CEZ
The F4 CEZ season came to a close at the Hungaroring, with Elia Weiss taking centre stage. The Jenzer Motorsport driver claimed pole position in Friday’s qualifying session before turning his championship lead into the title in Race 1, held in tricky conditions due to low temperatures and light drizzle. Despite the changing grip levels, Weiss maintained control to secure his ninth victory of the season, building an unassailable advantage over his main rival, Teo Borenstein , and clinching the championship with two races still remaining.
The weekend continued with Georgiy Zasov winning Race 2 after a strong start from second on the grid and a determined defence against team-mate Borenstein. Max Karhan completed the podium, giving Jenzer Motorsport a clean sweep of the top three positions. On Sunday, Weiss returned to the top step in Race 3, setting the pace from the opening corners to claim his second victory of the weekend.
In the final race of the season, Borenstein took the spotlight with an outside move at Turn 2, completed at Turn 3, to pass Weiss and secure the final win of the year. The weekend also featured Archie Owen ’s series debut, which he rounded off with a strong fifth-place finish in the final race. F4 CEZ therefore closes out 2026 with Weiss as champion and Borenstein taking the final victory, capping a season in which Jenzer Motorsport’s drivers remained at the forefront until the very end.
News
Weekend Preview: Austin Heats Up the F1 Academy Fight as the Hungaroring Brings the F4 CEZ Season to a Close
Tatuus cars return to the spotlight for two crucial events: F1 Academy heads to Austin with both titles potentially up for grabs, while F4 CEZ prepares for its final round with three championships still to be decided.From the United States to Hungary, Tatuus cars are set for a weekend in which every race could make a difference. In F1 Academy, the Austin round could see both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles decided, while F4 CEZ heads into its season finale with three championships still open. Two series, two different scenarios, with Tatuus single-seaters at the heart of the action.
F1 ACADEMY
F1 Academy heads to Austin for the fifth round of the 2026 season, running from 22 to 25 October, with three races on the schedule and both titles potentially up for grabs. At the Circuit of The Americas, Alisha Palmowski leads the Drivers’ standings by 48 points over Emma Felbermayr and could be crowned champion with one round to spare. The Teams’ Championship could also be decided in Texas, with Campos Racing holding a 73-point advantage over Rodin and closing in on its first title in the series.
For Palmowski, the weekend represents an opportunity to turn the advantage she has built so far into a championship and join Marta García , who clinched the title in Austin in 2023, Abbi Pulling and Doriane Pin on the list of F1 Academy champions.
The series’ return to Austin, where F1 Academy last raced in 2023, adds an extra unknown to the championship battle. All drivers except Ava Dobson will be racing at the 5.513 km circuit for the first time. Known for its significant elevation changes and rapid changes of direction, the track will leave little room for error. With just one free practice session before qualifying, the ability to adapt quickly could prove decisive, especially with three races packed into the weekend schedule.
Weekend Schedule
Friday Qualifying: 00:30–01:00 Race 1: 00:50–01:25
Saturday Race 2: 01:00–01:35
Sunday Race 3: 18:00–18:30
Qualifying and all races will be streamed live for free on the official F1 Academy YouTube channel. All sessions will also be available on F1 TV and through selected broadcasters listed in the Where to Watch section.
F4 CEZ
The 2026 F4 CEZ Championship is set to crown its champions at the Hungaroring, which hosts the season finale. Three drivers remain in contention for the overall title, all of them team-mates at Jenzer Motorsport. Elia Weiss arrives at the final round as championship leader with 299 points, 42 ahead of Teo Borenstein and 59 clear of Max Karhan . With 75 points still available across the weekend’s four races, Weiss needs to score 33 points to secure the title mathematically, while his two rivals will be looking to seize every opportunity to turn the standings around.
The Rookie Championship will also be decided in Hungary, with Markas Silkunas leading Simon Rechenmacher by 24 points. Georgiy Zasov sits third, 46 points behind his team-mate. The Hungaroring will also host the decisive round of the Women’s Trophy , with Ella Hakkinen on the verge of securing the title and six female drivers expected on the grid. Among those to watch are newcomers Clara Stiebleichinger , making her debut with Mathilda Racing , and Vicky Farfus , who will make her first championship appearance with Cram Motorsport . Completing the picture is a 35-car field and the presence of Hungarian teams HunOK Motorsport and Zengo Motorsport , both aiming for strong results in front of their home crowd.
Weekend Schedule
Friday Qualifying: 14:56 Qualifying 2: 15:23
Saturday Race 1: 08:00 Race 2: 15:07
Sunday Race 3: 08:00 Final Race: 13:38
All sessions will be streamed live on the official F4 CEZ YouTube channel.
Stories
From Birel Karts to Tatuus Cars Powered by Autotecnica Motori: Zoe Florescu Reflects on Her Motorsport Journey
From Karting to Single-Seaters: Zoe Florescu’s Journey Through the Korus EcosystemEvery driver’s journey begins somewhere and karting is where the foundations are built. It is where confidence takes shape, race craft develops and the ability to understand a vehicle becomes second nature. Moving into single-seaters brings a new set of challenges, requiring drivers to refine their technical feedback, analyse data in greater depth and adapt to a more complex racing environment.
Zoe Florescu has experienced this progression first-hand. Having spent most of her karting career with Birel, she has since made the step into single-seaters, competing in Spanish F4 and Italian F4 with Tatuus machinery powered by Autotecnica Motori engines, before making her F1 Academy debut as a Wild Card at Zandvoort.
Her journey reflects the breadth of expertise within Korus Group, whose companies span different stages of the motorsport pyramid, from Birel in karting to Tatuus chassis and Autotecnica Motori engines in single-seaters. While each step brings new demands, the knowledge, relationships and lessons built along the way can continue to shape a driver's development.
In this interview, Zoe looks back on the role karting played in building her confidence, the technical adjustments required to compete in Formula 4, her experience on an F1 weekend and the importance of seeing more women progress through the sport. Her story is also a reminder that development is not only about results, but about the people who help drivers believe in their potential and the work that turns that belief into progress.
You started your racing career in karting before making the step into single-seaters. What did karting teach you that you still carry with you today? I think the most important lesson karting taught me is how much self-confidence influences your driving and your results. When I first started competing internationally, I wasn't a well-known driver and I was racing with a small team. Being the only girl in a field full of boys, many of whom were backed by bigger teams with better equipment, could be quite intimidating.
I was also making the transition from national to international karting, so it took time to adapt. But as I became more comfortable competing in such an aggressive field, especially in KZ2, my results started to improve. I can see the same process happening now in Formula 4. With every race, I'm getting more comfortable, adapting to the conditions and learning how to put everything together to achieve the results I want.
That experience has taught me how important it is to believe in yourself. Although the transition from karting to single-seaters is very different, the mental side of racing remains similar. I often think back to my final races with Birel, particularly the KZ2 World Championship, and use that experience to maintain a positive mindset.
You grew up racing in the Birel karting environment, a name with a long and important history in karting. What did it mean to you to grow within the Birel family, and is there something from that experience that has stayed with you? Birel played a really important role in my development as a driver. I spent almost my entire karting career with the team. There was one year when I won FIA Girls on Track and received a free season with another brand, which was obviously an opportunity to take. Apart from that, all my years competing internationally in karting were with Birel.
Those years helped me build a strong foundation, both as a driver and in terms of the support system around me. In my final seasons in karting, I had Daniel Vasile as my coach, and he really helped me develop confidence in myself. I also had some amazing teammates who made a real difference.
I remember one of my best qualifying sessions, when my teammates helped me by working together on a strategy beforehand. Experiences like that show you how important it is to have the right people around you. When they believe in you, it becomes easier to believe in yourself, too. That support was particularly valuable when I made the step from OK Senior to KZ2.
Moving from karting to single-seaters is a significant step. What was the biggest adjustment for you when you first made the transition? The biggest adjustment was understanding just how demanding Formula 4 is. You need to pay much closer attention to every aspect of your driving and remain completely focused at all times.
In karting, once you've gained experience, driving becomes more instinctive. You arrive at the track with a good understanding of what you need to do in each corner. In Formula 4, however, there's much more to analyse. You need to study the data and onboard footage in detail, consider the conditions, tyre strategy and track position, and understand how factors such as wind and aerodynamics affect the car. You also have to work on your braking, acceleration and turning points.
In KZ2, for example, you can rely much more on instinct, throwing the kart into a corner and carrying speed through it. In a single-seater, you need a much more analytical approach. Racecraft is another challenge, particularly when it comes to running close to other cars and finding opportunities to overtake. Overall, learning to adapt to this new environment has been the most difficult part of the transition.
You have raced the same Tatuus car, the T-421, in different configurations across three different championships. How has that experience helped you develop as a driver and what aspects of the car have impressed you the most? I've driven the Tatuus T-421 in Spanish F4, Italian F4 and F1 Academy, and each championship has its own configuration. The cars have different braking systems, while F1 Academy also has different settings and a more restricted setup.
Adapting to these differences can be challenging, but I also see it as a valuable opportunity to experiment, broaden my skills and learn how to perform under different conditions. Each experience teaches you something new as a driver.
Of the three, I think the Spanish F4 car is my favourite. I've completed the most laps in it, so I'm probably the most familiar with that version, but it's definitely one of the cars I've enjoyed driving the most.
Having started your career in karting with Birel and now competing in single-seaters with Tatuus, powered by Autotecnica Motori engines, you have experienced different sides of the Korus Group ecosystem. What does it mean to you to grow within a motorsport community that can support a driver’s journey from karting to car racing? I'm still in contact with some people from karting, and I had considered doing a few races with Birel again this year, although my schedule has been quite full. Even if we're not in direct contact as much now, I feel that everything I learned during those years continues to help me in single-seaters.
In karting, we would spend a lot of time discussing the setup after each session, learning how to understand the kart and provide the best possible feedback. That experience has been really useful in Formula 4, where setup is just as important, if not more complex. Now that I'm working with a new team in Spanish F4, Technicar, I need to be as precise and detailed as possible when explaining what I feel on track. There are so many more variables you can adjust on a car compared with a kart, so good communication is essential.
Dani also taught me to look beyond my driving and pay attention to what I feel in the vehicle. That's something I always try to keep in mind. Understanding those sensations and being able to communicate them clearly is an important part of helping the team find the right setup and ultimately improving performance.
Racing as a wild card for the Formula 1 Academy at Zandvoort gave you the opportunity to experience a Formula 1 weekend from inside the paddock. What was the experience like for you? It was quite an up-and-down weekend, and the final result wasn't what I had hoped for. However, it was an incredibly valuable experience. During the weekend, I went from thinking I would be starting on the front row to having to completely reset my mindset and prepare for a race where I would need to fight my way forward.
The atmosphere was really special, from the fans to the whole environment around the paddock. Working with such a professional team was also a great learning opportunity and gave me a lot of confidence heading back to Spanish F4. Looking ahead, I see the weekend as valuable preparation for next year, as I hope to secure a full-time seat in F1 Academy.
The moment that stood out most was qualifying, because the conditions were extremely challenging. It was raining heavily at the start, with a completely wet track and a lot of spray. Towards the end of the session, we had to decide whether to switch from wet tyres to slicks, and I made that change quite late. In Formula 4, getting the tyres up to temperature is crucial, particularly in cold conditions when the track is transitioning from wet to dry.
Finishing qualifying in P7 and then achieving P2 in the reverse-grid race was a really positive result, especially because I had never driven that circuit in the wet or experienced those exact conditions in a Formula 4 car before. To go out in front of such a big crowd, take that risk and make it work was a very special moment for me.
I'm proud that my abilities were put to the test and that I was able to deliver when it mattered. Of course, not everything that happened afterwards was within my control, but overall, I feel I did a good job as a driver.
You drive a Tatuus car powered by an ATM engine, a pair that has helped nurture talents such as Kimi Antonelli. What does it mean to you to race with an engine that has played a role in the careers of so many drivers who have gone on to reach the highest levels of motorsport? I think having similar chassis and engines across different Formula 4 championships is a real advantage for drivers. It allows us to build on what we've learned and carry that experience from one championship to another, even when there are differences between the cars.
Knowing that so many Formula 1 drivers and talented racers have taken the same steps gives those of us coming from karting a lot of motivation. They all had to adapt to a new car, learn new techniques and work to achieve results, just as we are doing now. It reminds us that we're following a path that has already helped many drivers reach the highest levels of motorsport.
We're developing skills that are also essential in Formula 1, and seeing drivers who have progressed through these categories is a great source of inspiration. Kimi Antonelli, in particular, is an incredible example. Seeing him leading the championship in his second Formula 1 season is amazing.
I've also competed in the Italian championship, where he raced before me, and that's something I see as a small but meaningful connection. For drivers like me, these examples are a reminder that we're on the right track and that continuing to work hard can open up new opportunities.
More and more young girls are looking at motorsport as a possible path for themselves. How important is it for you to be part of this change and to show them that a career in racing is possible? It's really important to me because, when I was racing in karting, there were very few girls competing in the higher categories, and I was almost always the only one. That sometimes made it difficult to find the motivation to believe that I could make it as a woman in motorsport.
Today, with F1 Academy and more women competing in junior Formulas, I think younger girls have more examples to look up to. I'm really happy to be part of that change and to have the opportunity to be a role model.
My own journey shows that progress is possible, even when things don't go as planned at the beginning. I started in national karting, initially struggling to qualify for finals and then pre-finals. Eventually, I qualified for a World Championship in KZ2, and now I'm competing at a high level in Formula 4 and racing on Formula 1 weekends through F1 Academy.
I hope my experience can show other girls that, even if the goal seems out of reach at first, there is always room to improve and keep moving forward. Being able to inspire the next generation would mean a lot to me.
Finally, what would you tell a young girl who is considering taking her first steps into motorsport today? I'd tell her to believe in herself. If you believe in your abilities, show the people around you that you're committed and keep putting in the work, they will start believing in you, too. That can help you earn the support and opportunities you need to develop as a driver.
I've seen it in my own experience: when I had the right support and the tools I needed to improve, I was able to achieve my best results. Having people who believe in you can make a real difference.
Above all, I'd tell her to enjoy the sport. Motorsport can be brutal, but it's also full of adrenaline and incredible moments that make the difficult times worthwhile. It's important to keep your head up after a bad weekend, learn from it and come back ready to try again.
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Weekend Debrief: A Weekend of Titles Won, Record-Breaking Trebles and Battles Decided by the Finest of Margins
From E4’s last-race showdown to Schormans’ triple victory in Spain, with titles decided in British F4 and a close contest in F4 Saudi Arabia, Tatuus cars were at the heart of a weekend packed with results.Some weekends are decided by the finest of margins, others take a clear direction from the very first race, while sometimes a single outstanding performance can change the course of a championship. The latest weekend of Tatuus racing brought all these elements together, with titles secured, standings reshaped and battles set to continue in the rounds ahead. From British F4 to E4, Spanish F4 and F4 Saudi Arabia, each series added a different chapter to the season.
BRITISH F4
Dries Van Langendonck brought the 2026 British F4 season to a close by securing both titles on offer. The Rodin Motorsport driver clinched the Drivers’ Championship in Race 1 at Brands Hatch, finishing second behind Theo Palmer , before securing the Rookie Cup at the end of the final round. The Belgian therefore ends the season with eight wins and four pole positions.
Palmer was one of the standout performers of the final round. After claiming his first pole position of the season, the Hitech driver converted pole into victory in Race 1, before repeating the feat in the final race with a win by more than four seconds. These results secured his second place in the championship, while Hitech also celebrated winning the Teams’ Cup.
Joseph Smith completed the list of race winners by taking Sunday’s reverse-grid race. The Virtuosi Racing driver claimed his third win of the year ahead of teammate Jarrett Clark , giving the team its first one-two finish of the season.
The championship concludes with 13 different winners across 30 races and 19 drivers having reached the podium at least once, reflecting a competitive season featuring a wide range of front-running contenders.
E4
Kenzo Craigie is the 2026 E4 champion after a season finale that was decided only in the last race at Monza. The Mercedes Junior driver for R-ace GP finished the championship on 190 points, level with Luka Sammalisto , but his greater number of victories, four to three, secured him both the Drivers’ and Rookie titles . The outcome rewarded the Briton’s consistency, having maintained his lead in the standings even after Race 2 had thrown the contest wide open again.
Sammalisto, already the Italian F4 champion, fought until the very end to complete a seasonal double. After finishing second in Race 2, the US Racing driver arrived at the final race with eight points to make up and claimed victory after charging through from eleventh on the grid. Craigie, running fourth in the closing stages, needed to finish in that position to secure the title, and teammate Andy Consani moved aside to allow him to seal the championship.
The Monza weekend also brought success for Ary Bansal and Iacopo Martinese . Bansal claimed his first E4 victory in Race 2, leading a US Racing one-two-three completed by Sammalisto and Martinese. Making his debut with the German team, Martinese collected two overall podium finishes, placing second in Race 1 and third in Race 2.
Completing the list of title winners, US Racing secured the Teams’ Trophy , while PA Racing’s Ginevra Panzeri finished the season at the top of the female standings .
SPANISH F4
Kasper Schormans dominated the penultimate round of the Spanish F4 Championship at Navarra, winning all three races of the weekend. The MP Motorsport driver completed the sweep with two pole positions and two fastest laps, coming close to a perfect points haul. The result significantly reshaped the championship standings: having arrived in Navarra with a seven-point lead, the Dutchman now heads into the final round 53 points clear of Noah Monteiro.
The Campos Racing driver sought to limit the damage throughout the weekend, achieving his best result in Race 3. After sharing the front row with Schormans, Monteiro stayed close to the leader for all 18 laps, crossing the finish line just 0.568 seconds behind the winner. Second place helped limit the gap, but the Drivers’ Championship will be decided in November at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Navarra also settled the Teams’ Championship . MP Motorsport mathematically secured the title with one round remaining, claiming the eighth team championship in the series’ history. The Dutch outfit also benefited from Rocco Coronel’s results, with the driver finishing second in both Race 1 and Race 2, while Daniel Kelleher completed the podium in the final race, earning his first single-seater top-three finish.
The final round, scheduled to take place in Barcelona from 13 to 15 November, will therefore decide the Drivers’ Championship.
Updated Drivers’ Standings Kasper Schormans – 256 points Noah Monteiro – 203 points Rocco Coronel – 181 points
F4 SAUDI ARABIA
Just three points separate Marlon Bayer (Wrap & Fly) and Archie Owen (7.23) in the F4 Saudi Arabia standings after the second round of the season in Jeddah, held on Wednesday and Thursday. The two drivers shared the victories, with Bayer winning Race 1 before Owen responded in the second race to further reduce the gap to the championship leader.
The Wrap & Fly driver opened the weekend with a win ahead of iCONNA’s Abdullah Kamel and Owen, who finished third. Owen responded on Thursday, turning the pace he had shown in the opening round into victory ahead of Bayer and Peax driver Isaac Seah . With two races and two different winners, consistency remains key: Bayer leads the standings on 83 points, with Owen close behind on 80.
Seah also enjoyed a strong qualifying result in Jeddah, claiming pole position for Race 1 before finishing the second race on the podium.
The next round will take place in Jeddah from 31 October to 2 November.
Updated Drivers’ Standings
Marlon Bayer – 83 points Archie Owen – 80 points Harrison Mackie – 46 points