Bernardo Gentil emerged as the early leader of the 2026 Brazilian F4 Championship after a dramatic opening round at Interlagos. Across three highly competitive races, Pietro Mesquita and Celo Hahn also claimed victories, while Gentil combined speed and consistency to secure the championship advantage. Meanwhile, Pedro Lins delivered remarkable recovery drives, and several incidents added unpredictability throughout the weekend. As a result, the season has already taken shape with multiple contenders showing strong pace.
Qualifying: Gentil secures narrow pole
Right from the start, Gentil demonstrated his pace by claiming pole position with a 1:36.894 lap. He edged Mesquita by just 0.023 seconds, while rookie Alan Moraes Soloviov impressed in third, only 0.048 seconds behind.
However, Pedro Lins faced an uphill battle after qualifying 13th, which forced him to rely on racecraft to recover positions. The tight margins at the front immediately indicated that the races would be closely contested.
Race 1: Mesquita converts opportunity
Race 1 began with immediate drama as Mesquita outpaced Gentil into Turn 1. At the same time, multiple drivers struggled off the line, prompting an early safety car intervention.
Once racing resumed, Gentil fought hard with Alexandre Louza, although midfield incidents soon reshaped the order. Enricco Abreu and Fabrício Fogaça collided, which also involved Gianni Giovanelli and forced several drivers into the pits.
At the front, Mesquita controlled the race and secured his maiden victory. Gentil followed in second, while Nacho Díaz claimed third after a decisive overtake.
Race 1 Classification
- Pietro Mesquita
- Bernardo Gentil
- Ignacio Díaz
- Alexandre Louza
- Paulo Willemann Filho
- João Paulo Sanzovo
- Celo Hahn
- Enricco Abreu
- Elias Barbosa
- Fabrício Fogaça
DNF: Pedro Lins, Alan Soloviov, Rodrigo Rocha, Gianni Giovanelli
Race 2: Hahn edges a close contest
Race 2 again featured a challenging start phase, although all drivers managed to get away cleanly. Early contact further down the order created disruption, yet the battle at the front quickly became the focal point.
Celo Hahn and Enricco Abreu built a gap over the field before Hahn made a decisive move for the lead on lap six. Despite a slight lock-up, he completed the overtake and maintained control.
Abreu remained within striking distance but could not find a way through. Consequently, Hahn secured victory by just 0.386 seconds. Meanwhile, Pedro Lins produced an outstanding drive, climbing from last to third.
Race 2 Classification
- Celo Hahn
- Enricco Abreu
- Pedro Lins
- Ignacio Díaz
- Paulo Willemann Filho
- Bernado Gentil
- Pietro Mesquita
- Gianni Giovanelli
- João Paulo Sanzovo
- Elias Barbosa
- Alan Soloviov
- Alexandre Louza
DNF: Rodrigo Rocha
DSQ: Fabrício Fogaça
Race 3: Gentil delivers under pressure
In Race 3, Gentil converted his pace into victory. He resisted an early challenge from Mesquita and then controlled the race from the front.
Two safety car periods disrupted the flow. First, Fogaça retired with a suspension issue. Then, contact between Hahn and Louza caused further interruptions. These moments compressed the field and created opportunities.
Pedro Lins once again capitalised, charging from tenth to second with confident overtakes. Soloviov also continued his strong weekend with another podium finish.
Despite sustained pressure, Gentil held on to win by just over half a second.
Race 3 Classification
- Bernardo Gentil
- Pedro Lins
- Alan Soloviov
- Pietro Mesquita
- Ignacio Díaz
- Paulo Willemann Filho
- João Paulo Sanzovo
- Elias Barbosa
- Rodrigo Rocha
- Alexandre Louza
DNF: Celo Hahn, Enricco Abreu, Fabrício Fogaça
DSQ: Gianni Giovanelli
2026 Brazilian F4 Championship standings after Round 1 (Interlagos)
After an eventful opening round, Gentil leads the championship with 49 points, thanks to his consistency and victory. Mesquita sits second with 39 points, while Díaz holds third with 34.
Lins’ strong recovery performances moved him up to fourth, keeping him firmly in contention. Meanwhile, the teams’ standings reflect TMG Racing’s dominance, and Gentil also leads the rookie classification.
Drivers’ Standings
- Bernardo Gentil – 49
- Pietro Mesquita – 39
- Ignacio Díaz – 34
- Pedro Lins – 30
- Paulo Willemann Filho – 24
- Celo Hahn – 21
- Enricco Abreu – 16
- Alan Soloviov – 15
- João Paulo Sanzovo – 14
- Alexandre Louza – 13
- Elias Barbosa – 6
- Rodrigo Rocha – 2
- Gianni Giovanelli – 1
- Fabrício Fogaça – 1
Teams’ Standings
- TMG Racing – 101
- Bassani Racing – 74
- Cavaleiro Sports – 34
Rookies’ Standings
- Bernardo Gentil – 63
- Ignacio Díaz – 49
- Paulo Willemann Filho – 36
- João Paulo Sanzovo – 27
- Alan Moraes Soloviov – 20
- Alexandre Louza – 20
- Elias Barbosa – 20
- Gianni Giovanelli – 8
- Rodrigo Rocha – 6
- Fabrício Fogaça – 6
Outlook for the 2026 Brazilian F4 season after Round 1 (Interlagos)
Looking ahead, Gentil carries strong momentum into the next round. However, with three different race winners and several standout performances, the championship remains wide open.
Furthermore, Lins’ recovery drives and Soloviov’s consistency highlight the depth of competition. Therefore, if the opening round is any indication, the 2026 season promises sustained excitement and close racing throughout.
2026 Brazilian F4: Weekend Summary: Round 1: Interlagos
Bernardo Gentil combined speed and consistency to leave Interlagos as championship leader. Pietro Mesquita and Celo Hahn each secured victories, while Pedro Lins impressed with remarkable recovery drives. Multiple incidents and safety cars added unpredictability, ensuring a thrilling start to the 2026 Brazilian Formula 4 season.
