Caleb Campbell produced a flawless performance at the opening round of the Formula 4 United States (F4 U.S.) Championship at NOLA Motorsports Park. Over the course of the weekend, he converted strong race pace into three victories, immediately establishing himself as the driver to beat.
2026 F4 U.S. Free Practice sets the early pace
To begin with, the weekend opened with two competitive Free Practice sessions that hinted at a closely fought field. In the first session, Luca Day narrowly topped the timesheets ahead of Cole Medeiros, while Zach Fourie followed closely in third. Meanwhile, Campbell placed fifth, suggesting he still had more pace to unlock.
In contrast, the second session saw Fernando Rivera move to the front. Medeiros again remained competitive in second, with Fourie continuing his consistency in third. Campbell improved to fourth, signalling progress heading into Qualifying.
Practice 1
- Luca Day – 1:40.462
- Cole Medeiros – 1:40.474 – +0.012
- Zach Fourie – 1:40.673 – +0.211
- Fernando Rivera – 1:40.713 – +0.251
- Caleb Campbell – 1:40.727 – +0.265
- Robert Soroka – 1:41.057 – +0.595
- Gaston Irazu – 1:41.359 – +0.897
- Ayden Kohut – 1:42.671 – +2.209
- Clemente Huerta – 1:44.573 – +4.111
Practice 2
- Fernando Rivera – 1:40.951
- Cole Medeiros – 1:41.089 – +0.138
- Zach Fourie – 1:41.127 – +0.176
- Caleb Campbell – 1:41.196 – +0.245
- Gaston Irazu – 1:41.503 – +0.552
- Ayden Kohut – 1:41.767 – +0.816
- Robert Soroka – 1:42.455 – +1.504
- Luca Day – 1:43.612 – +2.661
- Clemente Huerta – 1:44.910 – +3.959
2026 F4 U.S. Qualifying delivers late drama
Moving into Qualifying, the session proved far more dramatic. Medeiros initially lost his fastest lap, which dropped him down the order. However, officials later reinstated the time, promoting him back to pole position.
As a result, Medeiros secured his first pole position, edging Fourie by just 0.032 seconds. Campbell qualified third, placing himself firmly in contention for the races.
Qualifying
- Cole Medeiros – 1:39.902
- Zach Fourie – 1:39.934 – +0.032
- Caleb Campbell – 1:40.227 – +0.325
- Gaston Irazu – 1:40.344 – +0.442
- Clemente Huerta – 1:40.489 – +0.587
- Luca Day – 1:40.957 – +1.055
- Fernando Rivera – 1:40.969 – +1.067
- Ayden Kohut – 1:41.580 – +1.678
- Robert Soroka – 1:41.730 – +1.828
2026 F4 U.S. Race 1: Campbell strikes late
At the start of Race 1, early retirements for Rivera and Ayden Kohut disrupted the field. Later, Day also exited, reducing the number of contenders.
Although Fourie initially took the lead from Medeiros, Campbell steadily closed the gap. Then, in the closing stages, he executed a decisive overtake to claim victory. Fourie finished second, while Gaston Irazu secured third.
Race 1
- Caleb Campbell
- Zach Fourie
- Gaston Irazu
- Cole Medeiros
- Clemente Huerta
- Robert Soroka
NC: Luca Day, Ayden Kohut, Fernando Rivera
2026 F4 U.S. Race 2: Consistency at the front
Next, Race 2 featured early chaos when Irazu and Clemente Huerta collided, bringing out a safety car. Furthermore, Day retired once again, continuing his difficult weekend.
Nevertheless, Campbell and Fourie quickly established themselves at the front. Despite sustained pressure, Campbell controlled the race and secured his second win. Medeiros completed the podium, earning his first top-three finish.
Race 2
- Caleb Campbell
- Zach Fourie
- Cole Medeiros
- Fernando Rivera
- Robert Soroka
- Ayden Kohut
NC: Luca Day, Gaston Irazu, Clemente Huerta
2026 F4 U.S. Race 3: Completing the sweep
Finally, Race 3 unfolded without interruptions, allowing a pure contest of pace. Campbell capitalised on this, pulling clear of the field and winning by over four seconds.
Behind him, Fourie once again finished second, while Irazu fought through to take third and set the fastest lap.
Race 3:
- Caleb Campbell
- Zach Fourie
- Gaston Irazu
- Cole Medeiros
- Robert Soroka
- Luca Day
- Clemente Huerta
- Fernando Rivera
- Ayden Kohut
2026 F4 U.S. Standings after Round 1
Following the opening round, Caleb Campbell leads the championship with a perfect score after completing a dominant clean sweep across all three races. His consistency, race craft, and ability to control the field under pressure have already given him a significant early advantage in the title fight.
Behind him, Zach Fourie sits in second place after a remarkably steady weekend, finishing on the podium in every race and consistently keeping himself within striking distance of the lead. His string of second-place results underlines both his pace and his reliability at this stage of the season.
Meanwhile, rookies Cole Medeiros and Gaston Irazu have emerged as the early frontrunners in the rookie classification. Medeiros impressed with a breakthrough podium and strong qualifying speed, while Irazu showcased aggressive race pace and resilience to recover from setbacks and still secure valuable points.
Drivers’ Standings after Round 1
- Caleb Campbell – Kiwi Motorsport – 75 pts
- Zach Fourie (R) – Kiwi Motorsport – 54 pts
- Cole Medeiros (R) – MLT Motorsports – 39 pts
- Gaston Irazu (R) – Champagne Racing – 30 pts
- Robert Soroka – Vmax Motorsport – 28 pts
- Fernando Rivera (R) – Crosslink Motorsports – 16 pts
- Clemente Huerta – Speed Factory – 16 pts
- Ayden Kohut (R) – Kiwi Motorsport – 10 pts
- Luca Day (R) – Momentum Motorsports – 8 pts
Teams’ Championship after Round 1
- Kiwi Motorsport – 129 pts
- MLT Motorsports – 39 pts
- Champagne Racing – 30 pts
- Vmax Motorsport – 28 pts
- Crosslink Motorsports – 16 pts
- Speed Factory – 16 pts
- Momentum Motorsports – 8 pts
Conclusion
In conclusion, Campbell’s dominant sweep has immediately defined the early championship narrative. Moreover, his ability to manage pressure and deliver consistent pace across all three races highlights his title credentials.
However, Fourie’s consistency and Medeiros’ rapid adaptation suggest that competition will intensify as the season progresses. Therefore, while Campbell leads convincingly, the battle for the championship remains wide open heading into the next round.
