Williams F1 Team Academy driver Oleksandr Bondarev will make his FREC debut with Van Amersfoort Racing during the final two rounds of the 2026 season.
The Ukrainian will join VAR at Imola from 4–6 September before remaining with the Dutch squad for the championship finale at Hockenheim one week later. Bondarev replaces Francisco Macedo following what the team described as a mutually agreed decision between the Portuguese driver and VAR.
The move gives the 17-year-old his first competitive experience at Formula Regional level after progressing through karting and F4. Bondarev has already worked with VAR during testing, allowing both sides to build on an existing relationship as he takes the next step in his single-seater career.
Bondarev steps up after successful F4 spell
The Ukrainian driver arrives in FREC with a strong junior racing record that began in karting at five years old. He became Ukrainian Karting Champion two years later before establishing himself internationally through several major successes.
He won the WSK Super Master Series title in the OK Junior category in 2022 before claiming the FIA Karting European Championship crown at the same level one year later. Williams subsequently added Bondarev to its Driver Academy during 2023, and he continued his karting success by winning the WSK Champions Cup in OK in 2024.
His transition into cars began later that year with his first appearances in Italian F4. Bondarev then completed his first full campaign in 2025, taking his maiden Italian F4 victory at Imola while also winning the E4 Championship Rookie title.
The Ukrainian added another major achievement at the beginning of 2026 when he secured the UAE4 Series title. In doing so, Bondarev became the first Ukrainian driver to win the championship before returning to Italian F4 for the remainder of the season.
Imola brings Bondarev back to familiar territory
Bondarev’s first FREC weekend takes him back to the circuit where he claimed his maiden Italian F4 victory.
The step into the second-generation Tatuus T-326 nevertheless represents a significant change. Formula Regional provides greater power, aerodynamic performance and technical complexity than F4, while Bondarev will make the transition during the championship’s decisive final double-header.
He approaches the opportunity primarily as a chance to learn while building experience with a team he already knows from testing.
“I’m very happy to join Van Amersfoort Racing for the final two rounds of the FREC season. It’s a great opportunity to gain more experience at Formula Regional level and work with a new team. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone, learning as much as possible and giving my best on track.”
With Imola immediately followed by Hockenheim, Bondarev will have little time between his first and second FREC appearances. However, consecutive weekends should also allow him to maintain momentum as he becomes increasingly familiar with the car and team.
VAR already familiar with Bondarev from testing
Van Amersfoort Racing has followed Bondarev’s development throughout his rise through junior motorsport and has already had an opportunity to assess him directly during testing.
That previous running gives the team useful knowledge of how Bondarev works behind the wheel and provides him with some familiarity before his competitive debut. Team Principal Brad Joyce believes his results in karting and F4 demonstrate the potential required to make the next step.
“We’re pleased to welcome Oleksandr to VAR for the final two rounds of the season. He has already achieved strong results in karting and Formula 4, and we have also seen his pace first-hand during testing with the team. We’re looking forward to working with him and seeing how he adapts to the Formula Regional environment. We would also like to thank Francisco for his commitment and work with the team and wish him all the best for the next steps in his career.”
Bondarev therefore joins VAR with expectations centred on adaptation and development rather than an immediate results target. His two weekends should provide useful preparation as he evaluates the next stage of his career beyond F4.
Macedo departs before final two rounds
Bondarev takes over the seat previously occupied by Macedo, who leaves the team before the conclusion of the 2026 campaign following a mutually agreed decision.
VAR thanked Macedo for his contribution and did not announce further details regarding his immediate plans. His departure creates the opportunity for Bondarev to gain competitive Formula Regional experience before the end of the year while allowing the team to assess another young driver within its programme.
The timing also gives Bondarev two very different circuits on which to learn the T-326. Imola’s narrow, technical layout places an emphasis on confidence and precision, while Hockenheim combines longer straights with slower sections and several significant braking zones.
That variety should give both Bondarev and VAR a broader indication of his adaptation across the two weekends.
Bondarev joins championship for decisive double-header
Bondarev enters FREC as the championship prepares for a rapid conclusion to the 2026 season.
Imola hosts the penultimate round from 4–6 September before teams travel directly to Hockenheim for the finale from 11–13 September. The two events conclude a closely fought season in which the leading drivers remain separated by relatively small margins.
For Bondarev, championship position carries considerably less importance than gaining experience. His arrival instead provides an opportunity to begin learning Formula Regional machinery while competing against drivers who have spent the full season developing with the new-generation car.
The move also continues his progression within the Williams Driver Academy after his UAE4 title and continued Italian F4 programme during 2026. With two FREC weekends now added before the end of the year, Bondarev can begin assessing the demands of the next rung on the single-seater ladder while working with an established VAR operation.
