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2026 | F4 CEZ | Round 2 | Salzburgring | Weiss takes championship lead after double victory

Karishma Persad011 mins
Elia Weiss leads 2026 F4 CEZ after Salzburgring, where Jenzer Motorsport dominated and weather cancelled the final race.
Photo Credit: F4 CEZ
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The 2026 F4 Central European Zone (CEZ) Championship continued with a dramatic second round at the Salzburgring, where slipstream battles, Safety Cars, penalties and changing weather shaped a decisive weekend in Austria.

A 40-car entry created the largest single-seater grid in F4 CEZ history at the Salzburgring. Therefore, organisers again used a split format across practice, qualifying and the races to manage the field around the fast 4.241-kilometre circuit.

David Walther arrived as the championship leader after the Red Bull Ring opener. However, Jenzer Motorsport quickly took control of the weekend. Elia Weiss won the first two completed races, while teammate Max Karhan claimed Race 3 to secure his first victory of the season. The final race was later cancelled after heavy rain hit the circuit.

As a result, Weiss left Salzburgring on top of the Drivers’ Championship with 111 points, ahead of Walther on 102 and Karhan on 101. Jenzer Motorsport also strengthened its lead in the Teams’ Championship with 290 points.

2026 F4 CEZ Free Practice sets the tone at Salzburgring

Free Practice opened Saturday’s running and immediately confirmed Jenzer Motorsport’s pace. The 40-car field was split into two groups, with each group taking part in one 45-minute session.

Karhan topped Heat 1 with a 1:21.135, ahead of Francesco Pio Coppola and Walther. However, Heat 2 produced the fastest laps overall. Weiss set a 1:20.968, edging Jenzer teammate Teo Borenstein by just 0.014s. Simon Rechenmacher completed the top three in Heat 2 for Cram Motorsport.

Only Weiss and Borenstein dipped below 1:21. Consequently, the opening session suggested that Jenzer had the strongest overall package before qualifying.

Free Practice Heat 1 results

  1. #144 Max Karhan – Jenzer Motorsport – 1:21.135
  2. #78 Francesco Pio Coppola – Technorace Competition – +0.261
  3. #7 David Walther – Maffi Racing – +0.350
  4. #25 Georgiy Zasov – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.455
  5. #26 Markas Silkunas – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.485
  6. #9 Dean Pedersen – Mathilda Racing – +0.498
  7. #21 Ella Häkkinen – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.593
  8. #15 Alexandre Louza – Cram Motorsport – +0.684
  9. #76 Jorge Luis Bruno – Drivex – +0.684
  10. #61 Alexia Danielsson – STEP Motorsport – +0.765
  11. #8 Andreas Lo Bue – Renauer Motorsport – +0.829
  12. #52 Mio Olert – SG Motors – +1.093
  13. #12 Bien Cezary – Maffi Racing – +1.272
  14. #427 Stefan Treneski – JMT Racing – +1.349
  15. #5 Igor Polak – Maffi Racing – +1.399
  16. #33 Tobias Pasko – Janik Motorsport – +1.749
  17. #27 Agustín Sepulveda – Scuderia Buell – +1.830
  18. #10 Ginevra Panzeri – PA racing by AS Motorsport – +1.848
  19. #42 Noah Daniel Noelken – Dutt Motorsport by fenster.com – +2.092
  20. #96 Leo Nilsson – Drivex – +13.439

Free Practice Heat 2 results

  1. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 1:20.968
  2. #20 Teo Borenstein – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.014
  3. #3 Simon Rechenmacher – Cram Motorsport – +0.142
  4. #29 Payton Westcott – Cram Motorsport – +0.275
  5. #31 Knud Eske Nielsen – Real Racing – +0.446
  6. #99 Antonio Errigo – Technorace Competition – +0.581
  7. #86 Aleksandar Bogunovic – ABA Racing by SG Motors – +0.611
  8. #77 Viktor Snebjorn Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +0.745
  9. #18 Mathilda Paatz – Mathilda Racing – +0.845
  10. #35 Sebastian Frigolet – Drivex – +1.001
  11. #88 David Gorcica – Janik Motorsport – +1.012
  12. #555 Benet Gaspar – Zengo Motorsport – +1.054
  13. #6 Tomas Rudokas – Renauer Motorsport – +1.088
  14. #2 Erik Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +1.095
  15. #17 Frantisek Nemec – JMT Racing – +1.353
  16. #19 Patrik Lipovics – HunOK Motorsport – +1.397
  17. #14 Nikolaj Dyrved – Maffi Racing – +1.517
  18. #69 Miroslav Kepak – Sladecka Motorsport – +1.596
  19. #13 Samuil Ivanov – Real Racing – +2.455
  20. #75 Michalina Sabaj – AS Motorsport – +2.797

2026 F4 CEZ Qualifying: Walther responds with fastest lap

Walther struck back in Qualifying. The Maffi Racing driver topped Heat 1 with a 1:20.906, becoming the only driver to lap below 1:21. Karhan followed in second, while Dean Pedersen placed third for Mathilda Racing.

In Heat 2, Weiss led the way with a 1:21.029, only 0.005s slower than Karhan’s Heat 1 effort. Borenstein completed a Jenzer one-two in the session, with Rechenmacher third.

Qualifying Heat 1 results

  1. #7 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 1:20.906
  2. #144 Max Karhan – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.118
  3. #9 Dean Pedersen – Mathilda Racing – +0.401
  4. #26 Markas Silkunas – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.404
  5. #21 Ella Häkkinen – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.423
  6. #78 Francesco Pio Coppola – Technorace Competition – +0.460
  7. #25 Georgiy Zasov – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.735
  8. #52 Mio Olert – SG Motors – +0.752
  9. #76 Jorge Luis Bruno – Drivex – +0.758
  10. #61 Alexia Danielsson – STEP Motorsport – +0.907
  11. #15 Alexandre Louza – Cram Motorsport – +0.963
  12. #8 Andreas Lo Bue – Renauer Motorsport – +1.141
  13. #427 Stefan Treneski – JMT Racing – +1.350
  14. #27 Agustín Sepulveda – Scuderia Buell – +1.388
  15. #10 Ginevra Panzeri – PA racing by AS Motorsport – +1.422
  16. #33 Tobias Pasko – Janik Motorsport – +1.441
  17. #5 Igor Polak – Maffi Racing – +1.518
  18. #12 Bien Cezary – Maffi Racing – +1.756
  19. #42 Noah Daniel Noelken – Dutt Motorsport by fenster.com – +2.002
  20. #96 Leo Nilsson – Drivex – No representative time

Qualifying Heat 2 results

  1. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 1:21.029
  2. #20 Teo Borenstein – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.092
  3. #3 Simon Rechenmacher – Cram Motorsport – +0.213
  4. #86 Aleksandar Bogunovic – ABA Racing by SG Motors – +0.236
  5. #31 Knud Eske Nielsen – Real Racing – +0.373
  6. #99 Antonio Errigo – Technorace Competition – +0.529
  7. #18 Mathilda Paatz – Mathilda Racing – +0.629
  8. #6 Tomas Rudokas – Renauer Motorsport – +0.876
  9. #75 Michalina Sabaj – AS Motorsport – +0.909
  10. #17 Frantisek Nemec – JMT Racing – +0.935
  11. #88 David Gorcica – Janik Motorsport – +0.958
  12. #35 Sebastian Frigolet – Drivex – +0.967
  13. #29 Payton Westcott – Cram Motorsport – +0.969
  14. #69 Miroslav Kepak – Sladecka Motorsport – +1.061
  15. #77 Viktor Snebjorn Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +1.322
  16. #19 Patrik Lipovics – HunOK Motorsport – +1.395
  17. #13 Samuil Ivanov – Real Racing – +2.788
  18. #555 Benet Gaspar – Zengo Motorsport – +2.801
  19. #14 Nikolaj Dyrved – Maffi Racing – +3.615
  20. #2 Erik Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +16.576

2026 F4 CEZ Race 1: Weiss beats Walther after intense lead duel

Race 1 delivered the first major championship swing of the weekend. Walther started from pole alongside Weiss and led through the first chicane. However, an early Safety Car interrupted the opening lap after Jorge Luis Bruno became stranded in the gravel.

After the restart, Weiss used the Salzburgring slipstream to pressure Walther. He finally overtook the Maffi Racing driver on lap eight, before Walther fought back on the start-finish straight. The pair ran side by side into the first chicane and made slight contact.

Later, Walther struck debris from Georgiy Zasov’s tyre failure, which damaged his front wing. Borenstein then passed him on the final lap, securing a Jenzer one-two behind Weiss.

Race 1: Group A + B results

  1. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 25:26.617
  2. #20 Teo Borenstein – Jenzer Motorsport – +4.433
  3. #7 David Walther – Maffi Racing – +4.699
  4. #78 Francesco Pio Coppola – Technorace Competition – +5.012
  5. #26 Markas Silkunas – Jenzer Motorsport – +6.031
  6. #9 Dean Pedersen – Mathilda Racing – +6.281
  7. #86 Aleksandar Bogunovic – ABA Racing by SG Motors – +6.485
  8. #18 Mathilda Paatz – Mathilda Racing – +7.615
  9. #17 Frantisek Nemec – JMT Racing – +9.286
  10. #8 Andreas Lo Bue – Renauer Motorsport – +10.729
  11. #88 David Gorcica – Janik Motorsport – +11.359
  12. #29 Payton Westcott – Cram Motorsport – +12.867
  13. #10 Ginevra Panzeri – PA racing by AS Motorsport – +17.318
  14. #69 Miroslav Kepak – Sladecka Motorsport – +17.793
  15. #6 Tomas Rudokas – Renauer Motorsport – +23.210
  16. #2 Erik Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +23.461
  17. #33 Tobias Pasko – Janik Motorsport – +23.787
  18. #42 Noah Daniel Noelken – Dutt Motorsport by fenster.com – +24.175
  19. #61 Alexia Danielsson – STEP Motorsport – +24.935
  20. #14 Nikolaj Dyrved – Maffi Racing – +26.416
  21. #19 Patrik Lipovics – HunOK Motorsport – +27.021
  22. #12 Bien Cezary – Maffi Racing – +27.362
  23. #31 Knud Eske Nielsen – Real Racing – +47.828
  24. #427 Stefan Treneski – JMT Racing – 15 laps
  25. #25 Georgiy Zasov – Jenzer Motorsport – +1:11.490

Not classified:

DNC. #76 Jorge Luis Bruno – Drivex
DNS. #13 Samuil Ivanov – Real Racing

2026 F4 CEZ Race 2: Weiss wins again after Karhan fight

Race 2 produced another intense Jenzer duel. Weiss started from pole, but Karhan swept around the outside at the long right-hander to take the lead on the opening lap.

The pair exchanged positions several times, while Rechenmacher briefly joined the fight. Then, in the closing stages, Weiss shaped as though he would attack outside Karhan before switching to the inside. That decisive move gave him the lead.

A late Safety Car followed contact between Bruno and Coppola, and the race ended under yellow. Weiss secured his second victory of the weekend, ahead of Karhan and Rechenmacher. Coppola received a five-second penalty and dropped to 11th.

Race 2: Group B + C results

  1. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 25:59.708
  2. #144 Max Karhan – Jenzer Motorsport – +0.596
  3. #3 Simon Rechenmacher – Cram Motorsport – +1.169
  4. #9 Dean Pedersen – Mathilda Racing – +1.980
  5. #18 Mathilda Paatz – Mathilda Racing – +2.880
  6. #86 Aleksandar Bogunovic – ABA Racing by SG Motors – +4.232
  7. #8 Andreas Lo Bue – Renauer Motorsport – +5.137
  8. #29 Payton Westcott – Cram Motorsport – +5.482
  9. #99 Antonio Errigo – Technorace Competition – +6.170
  10. #21 Ella Häkkinen – Jenzer Motorsport – +7.076
  11. #78 Francesco Pio Coppola – Technorace Competition – +7.161
  12. #15 Alexandre Louza – Cram Motorsport – +8.076
  13. #52 Mio Olert – SG Motors – +8.614
  14. #75 Michalina Sabaj – AS Motorsport – +9.122
  15. #35 Sebastian Frigolet – Drivex – +9.697
  16. #5 Igor Polak – Maffi Racing – +10.829
  17. #77 Viktor Snebjorn Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +11.471
  18. #10 Ginevra Panzeri – PA racing by AS Motorsport – +12.289
  19. #27 Agustín Sepulveda – Scuderia Buell – +13.425
  20. #12 Bien Cezary – Maffi Racing – +14.156
  21. #14 Nikolaj Dyrved – Maffi Racing – +15.011
  22. #96 Leo Nilsson – Drivex – +15.802
  23. #555 Benet Gaspar – Zengo Motorsport – +27.674
  24. #17 Frantisek Nemec – JMT Racing – +28.783
  25. #19 Patrik Lipovics – HunOK Motorsport – 17 laps
  26. #76 Jorge Luis Bruno – Drivex – 14 laps

2026 F4 CEZ Race 3: Karhan takes first victory of the season

Race 3 gave Karhan his breakthrough win of the season. The Group A + C race started behind the Safety Car because oil from an earlier race had left the braking zone into Turn 1 slippery.

Once racing began, Karhan used the back straight to pass pole-sitter Walther and take the lead. Walther then defended second from Borenstein, Rechenmacher and Silkunas as a tight podium fight developed behind Karhan.

A mid-race Safety Car erased Karhan’s advantage, but he controlled the restart perfectly. Borenstein later dropped to sixth after nearly losing control exiting the long right-hander, while Karhan pulled clear to win ahead of Walther and Rechenmacher.

Race 3: Group A + C results

  1. #144 Max Karhan – Jenzer Motorsport – 25:39.487
  2. #7 David Walther – Maffi Racing – +1.566
  3. #3 Simon Rechenmacher – Cram Motorsport – +2.180
  4. #26 Markas Silkunas – Jenzer Motorsport – +2.623
  5. #31 Knud Eske Nielsen – Real Racing – +3.202
  6. #20 Teo Borenstein – Jenzer Motorsport – +3.480
  7. #25 Georgiy Zasov – Jenzer Motorsport – +5.269
  8. #99 Antonio Errigo – Technorace Competition – +6.741
  9. #21 Ella Häkkinen – Jenzer Motorsport – +7.268
  10. #88 David Gorcica – Janik Motorsport – +8.213
  11. #6 Tomas Rudokas – Renauer Motorsport – +9.458
  12. #427 Stefan Treneski – JMT Racing – +10.441
  13. #69 Miroslav Kepak – Sladecka Motorsport – +11.822
  14. #15 Alexandre Louza – Cram Motorsport – +12.246
  15. #77 Viktor Snebjorn Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +13.674
  16. #35 Sebastian Frigolet – Drivex – +14.685
  17. #5 Igor Polak – Maffi Racing – +15.272
  18. #2 Erik Poulsen – STEP Motorsport – +15.476
  19. #33 Tobias Pasko – Janik Motorsport – +18.751
  20. #27 Agustín Sepulveda – Scuderia Buell – +22.035
  21. #96 Leo Nilsson – Drivex – +22.350
  22. #61 Alexia Danielsson – STEP Motorsport – +22.727
  23. #42 Noah Daniel Noelken – Dutt Motorsport by fenster.com – +23.387
  24. #52 Mio Olert – SG Motors – +27.015
  25. #555 Benet Gaspar – Zengo Motorsport – +1:03.584
  26. #75 Michalina Sabaj – AS Motorsport – 16 laps

Not started:

DNS. #13 Samuil Ivanov – Real Racing

Final race at Salzburgring cancelled due to weather

The weekend should have concluded with Race 4 on Sunday afternoon. Weiss and Karhan were due to share the front row, with Walther and Rechenmacher behind them.

However, a heavy rainstorm hit the Salzburgring late on Sunday afternoon. Race control initially delayed the start, but the conditions and forecast prevented safe racing. Therefore, officials cancelled the final race and concluded the round with three completed races.

Championship standings after Round 2

Following the second round at Salzburgring, the championship picture shifted significantly. Elia Weiss moved into the lead after taking two victories across the weekend, while David Walther remained firmly in contention despite losing top spot. Max Karhan also closed in after claiming his first win of the season, leaving the top three separated by just 10 points.

Meanwhile, Jenzer Motorsport strengthened its position in the Teams’ Championship after winning all three completed races. With Weiss, Karhan, Borenstein, Silkunas, Zasov and Häkkinen all contributing across the opening two rounds, the team has already built a commanding advantage over Maffi Racing and Cram Motorsport.

Drivers’ Championship standings after Round 2

  1. #22 Elia Weiss – 111
  2. #7 David Walther – 102
  3. #144 Max Karhan – 101
  4. #20 Teo Borenstein – 75
  5. #3 Simon Rechenmacher – 63
  6. #26 Markas Silkunas – 48
  7. #78 Francesco Pio Coppola – 47
  8. #86 Aleksandar Bogunovic – 46
  9. #25 Georgiy Zasov – 43
  10. #18 Mathilda Paatz – 39
  11. #8 Andreas Lo Bue – 34
  12. #88 David Gorcica – 30
  13. #21 Ella Häkkinen – 30
  14. #31 Knud Eske Nielsen – 25
  15. #29 Lyuboslav Ruykov – 24
  16. #9 Dean Pedersen – 23
  17. #99 Antonio Errigo – 20
  18. #427 Stefan Treneski – 16
  19. #10 Ginevra Panzeri – 12
  20. #29 Payton Westcott – 12
  21. #555 Benet Gaspar – 11
  22. #15 Alexandre Louza – 9
  23. #35 Filippo Fiorentino – 8
  24. #17 Frantisek Nemec – 7
  25. #2 Erik Poulsen – 6
  26. #5 Igor Polak – 6
  27. #6 Tomas Rudokas – 6
  28. #75 Michalina Sabaj – 5
  29. #69 Miroslav Kepak – 5
  30. #9 Jade Jacquet – 4
  31. #61 Alexia Danielsson – 4
  32. #52 Mio Olert – 3
  33. #77 Viktor Snebjorn Poulsen – 3
  34. #27 Agustín Sepulveda – 1
  35. #35 Sebastian Frigolet – 1
  36. #76 Jorge Luis Bruno – 0
  37. #96 Leo Nilsson – 0
  38. #11 Albert Pisarik – 0
  39. #19 Patrik Lipovics – 0
  40. #42 Noah Daniel Noelken – 0
  41. #13 Samuil Ivanov – 0
  42. #65 Roman Roubicek – 0
  43. #33 Tobias Pasko – 0
  44. #14 Nikolaj Dyrved – 0
  45. #12 Bien Cezary – 0

Teams’ Championship standings after Round 2

  1. Jenzer Motorsport – 290
  2. Maffi Racing – 108
  3. Cram Motorsport – 102
  4. Technorace Competition – 67
  5. Mathilda Racing – 66
  6. ABA Racing by SG Motors – 46
  7. Renauer Motorsport – 40
  8. Janik Motorsport – 30
  9. Real Racing – 25
  10. JMT Racing – 23
  11. STEP Motorsport – 13
  12. PA racing by AS Motorsport – 12
  13. Zengo Motorsport – 11
  14. Harp Racing – 8
  15. AS Motorsport – 5
  16. Sladecka Motorsport – 5
  17. SG Motors – 3
  18. Scuderia Buell – 1
  19. Drivex – 1
  20. HunOK Motorsport – 0
  21. Dutt Motorsport by fenster.com – 0

Woman Trophy standings after Round 2

  1. #18 Mathilda Paatz – 120
  2. #21 Ella Häkkinen – 106
  3. #61 Alexia Danielsson – 78
  4. #10 Ginevra Panzeri – 72
  5. #75 Michalina Sabaj – 71
  6. #9 Jade Jacquet – 40
  7. #29 Payton Westcott – 40

Conclusion

In summary, Salzburgring delivered a decisive second round of the 2026 F4 CEZ season. Weiss transformed two victories into the championship lead, while Karhan added his first win of the year and moved within one point of Walther.

Meanwhile, Walther continued to score strongly despite losing the lead, and Rechenmacher maintained his consistent run with another podium. Behind them, Pedersen, Paatz, Silkunas, Coppola and Bogunovic all made important gains across the completed races.

Ultimately, Jenzer Motorsport dominated the weekend. The team won all three completed races, placed multiple drivers near the front, and built a commanding Teams’ Championship advantage.

With Weiss now leading Walther and Karhan by narrow margins, the title fight remains wide open as F4 CEZ moves beyond its Austrian double-header.

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