2026 British F4 | Round 1: Donington Park | Van Langendonck leads after dramatic opener as chaos shapes early title fight

Karishma Persad06 mins
Van Langendonck leads 2026 British F4 after Donington opener with wins for Smith, Jeff-Hall and Lennon in a chaotic triple-header.
Photo Credit: British F4 | X
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The 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA, launched its new campaign at Donington Park with a dramatic and unpredictable opening weekend. A record 31-car grid produced three action-packed races, multiple safety cars, penalties, and shifting fortunes across all three contests.

Dries Van Langendonck set the early benchmark with a commanding qualifying performance and converted that pace into a strong championship lead. However, victories for Ethan Lennon and Joseph Smith, combined with standout drives from Ethan Jeff-Hall and Scott Kin Lindblom, ensured the title fight began with genuine depth and intensity.

2026 British F4: Donington Park: Qualifying: Van Langendonck sets the pace in ultra-close field

Qualifying immediately underlined how tightly packed the field would be this season. Van Langendonck delivered a record-breaking lap to secure pole position, while the top 23 drivers finished within just one second of each other.

Despite the narrow margins, Van Langendonck still stood out as the reference point. Theo Palmer and Jarrett Clark lined up alongside him on the front row fight, while Jeff-Hall and Smith completed the top five, setting up a competitive opening race.

Qualifying results

  1. Dries Van Langendonck – 1:04.865 – —
  2. Theo Palmer – 1:05.124 – +0.259
  3. Jarrett Clark – 1:05.159 – +0.294
  4. Ethan Jeff Hall – 1:05.312 – +0.447
  5. Joseph Smith – 1:05.355 – +0.490
  6. George Proudford Nalder – 1:05.359 – +0.494
  7. Cash Felber – 1:05.409 – +0.544
  8. Scott Kin Lindblom – 1:05.457 – +0.592
  9. Lewis Wherrell – 1:05.529 – +0.664
  10. Haarni Sadiq – 1:05.533 – +0.668
  11. Ethan Carney – 1:05.538 – +0.673
  12. Ethan Lennon – 1:05.540 – +0.675
  13. Cole Hewetson – 1:05.562 – +0.697
  14. Jaber Alsabah – 1:05.578 – +0.713
  15. Alfie Slater – 1:05.593 – +0.728
  16. Ella Lloyd – 1:05.623 – +0.758
  17. Adam Al Azhari – 1:05.627 – +0.762
  18. Vegard Klemetsen – 1:05.650 – +0.785
  19. Mate Kobakhidze – 1:05.673 – +0.808
  20. Roman Felber – 1:05.677 – +0.812
  21. Kit Belofsky – 1:05.698 – +0.833
  22. Henry Mercier – 1:05.730 – +0.865
  23. Chiara Battig – 1:05.736 – +0.871
  24. Cameron Nelson – 1:05.951 – +1.086
  25. Tommy Harfield – 1:05.998 – +1.133
  26. Jackson Wolny – 1:06.002 – +1.137
  27. Timo Jungling – 1:06.049 – +1.184
  28. Piotr Orzechowski – 1:06.108 – +1.243
  29. Sun Anzhe – 1:06.556 – +1.691
  30. Daniella Sutton – 1:06.600 – +1.735
  31. Leon Hedfors – 1:06.643 – +1.778

2026 British F4: Donington Park: Race 1: Van Langendonck controls the opener amid penalties

Van Langendonck immediately converted pole into dominance as he controlled the opening race from start to finish. He quickly established a gap and never allowed his rivals back into contention, ultimately winning by around four seconds.

Ethan Jeff-Hall initially chased hard and crossed the line second on track, but track limits penalties reshuffled the classification. As a result, Theo Palmer and Joseph Smith moved up onto the podium.

Behind them, Scott Kin Lindblom, Cash Felber and George Proudford Nalder delivered strong drives, while Ethan Carney and Adam Al Azhari also secured solid points finishes in a race heavily influenced by penalties and consistency.

Race 1 results

  1. Dries Van Langendonck – 20:56.091 – —
  2. Ethan Jeff Hall – 20:57.059 – +0.968
  3. Theo Palmer – 20:58.310 – +2.219
  4. Joseph Smith – 20:59.390 – +3.299
  5. Jarrett Clark – 21:00.264 – +4.173
  6. Scott Kin Lindblom – 21:03.636 – +7.545
  7. Cash Felber – 21:05.812 – +9.721
  8. George Proudford Nalder – 21:06.119 – +10.028
  9. Adam Al Azhari – 21:07.736 – +11.645
  10. Ethan Carney – 21:09.011 – +12.920
  11. Tommy Harfield – 21:14.239 – +18.148
  12. Roman Felber – 21:14.745 – +18.654
  13. Ella Lloyd – 21:17.237 – +21.146
  14. Chiara Battig – 21:17.723 – +21.632
  15. Alfie Slater – 21:21.556 – +25.465
  16. Henry Mercier – 21:29.727 – +33.636
  17. Leon Hedfors – 21:31.452 – +35.361
  18. Jaber Alsabah – 21:33.036 – +36.945
  19. Piotr Orzechowski – 21:33.056 – +36.965
  20. Mate Kobakhidze – 21:33.477 – +37.386
  21. Cameron Nelson – 21:36.799 – +40.708
  22. Jackson Wolny – 21:37.074 – +40.983
  23. Cole Hewetson – 21:39.364 – +43.273
  24. Sun Anzhe – 21:41.313 – +45.222
  25. Daniella Sutton – 21:52.978 – +56.887
  26. Kit Belofsky – 21:55.834 – +59.743
  27. Timo Jungling – 22:08.283 – +1:12.192
  28. Haarni Sadiq – 21:25.405 – +1 Lap
  29. Ethan Lennon – 21:39.003 – +1 Lap
  30. Lewis Wherrell – 18:57.944 – +2 Laps

NC: Vegard Klemetsen – 7:07.981 – +13 Laps

2026 British F4: Donington Park: Race 2: Lennon capitalises in interrupted Sprint

Race 2 delivered the most chaotic action of the weekend. Multiple incidents triggered a red flag and two safety car periods, turning the race into a short sprint.

Once racing resumed, Ethan Lennon held his nerve under heavy pressure to secure victory. Lewis Wherrell and Scott Kin Lindblom followed closely behind, separated by just over half a second, while Van Langendonck recovered impressively from 12th to finish fourth.

Theo Palmer completed the top five, while Ethan Carney, Cole Hewetson and Jarrett Clark also impressed in a race defined by survival, timing and restart execution.

Race 2

  1. Ethan Lennon – 17:51.109 – —
  2. Lewis Wherrell – 17:51.679 – +0.570
  3. Scott Kin Lindblom – 17:52.373 – +1.264
  4. Dries Van Langendonck – 17:52.843 – +1.734
  5. Theo Palmer – 17:53.193 – +2.084
  6. Ethan Carney – 17:55.245 – +4.136
  7. Cole Hewetson – 17:56.289 – +5.180
  8. Jarrett Clark – 17:56.800 – +5.691
  9. Ethan Jeff Hall – 17:57.630 – +6.521
  10. George Proudford Nalder – 17:58.070 – +6.961
  11. Tommy Harfield – 17:59.116 – +8.007
  12. Kit Belofsky – 17:59.733 – +8.624
  13. Cameron Nelson – 17:59.878 – +8.769
  14. Henry Mercier – 18:00.147 – +9.038
  15. Mate Kobakhidze – 18:00.310 – +9.201
  16. Leon Hedfors – 18:00.534 – +9.425
  17. Jackson Wolny – 18:00.830 – +9.721
  18. Chiara Battig – 18:00.971 – +9.862
  19. Cash Felber – 18:01.171 – +10.062
  20. Roman Felber – 18:01.585 – +10.476
  21. Piotr Orzechowski – 18:01.979 – +10.870
  22. Joseph Smith – 18:05.507 – +14.398
  23. Daniella Sutton – 18:06.911 – +15.802
  24. Jaber Alsabah – 14:57.896 – +3 Laps
  25. Ella Lloyd – 13:27.815 – +4 Laps

NC:

  • Timo Jungling – 4:15.646 – +10 Laps
  • Haarni Sadiq – 0.000 – —
  • Alfie Slater – 0.000 – —
  • Adam Al Azhari – 0.000 – —
  • Vegard Klemetsen – 0.000 – —
  • Sun Anzhe – 0.000 – —

2026 British F4: Donington Park: Race 3: Smith emerges after late-race drama

The final race delivered the most decisive late drama of the weekend. Van Langendonck led early once again, but Theo Palmer mounted a strong challenge before contact removed him from contention.

After a late safety car, Joseph Smith capitalised in the closing stages and moved into the lead, ultimately securing victory after post-race classification changes. Ethan Jeff-Hall finished second, while Scott Kin Lindblom completed the podium.

Van Langendonck crossed the line fourth but still secured valuable points, while Ella Lloyd and Ethan Lennon completed strong top-six finishes in a race that demanded patience, precision and timing under pressure.

Race 3 results

  1. Joseph Smith – 25:56.071 – —
  2. Ethan Jeff Hall – 25:57.547 – +1.476
  3. Scott Kin Lindblom – 25:59.503 – +3.432
  4. Dries Van Langendonck – 26:00.334 – +4.263
  5. Ella Lloyd – 26:03.270 – +7.199
  6. Ethan Lennon – 26:03.507 – +7.436
  7. Jaber Alsabah – 26:06.706 – +10.635
  8. Cole Hewetson – 26:07.205 – +11.134
  9. Adam Al Azhari – 26:07.980 – +11.909
  10. Ethan Carney – 26:08.375 – +12.304
  11. Timo Jungling – 26:09.284 – +13.213
  12. Alfie Slater – 26:04.727 – —
  13. Chiara Battig – 26:10.253 – +14.182
  14. George Proudford Nalder – 26:10.395 – +14.324
  15. Lewis Wherrell – 26:11.307 – +15.236
  16. Kit Belofsky – 26:13.573 – +17.502
  17. Mate Kobakhidze – 26:13.918 – +17.847
  18. Henry Mercier – 26:14.068 – +17.997
  19. Roman Felber – 26:14.120 – +18.049
  20. Cash Felber – 26:14.257 – +18.186
  21. Piotr Orzechowski – 26:14.767 – +18.696
  22. Jarrett Clark – 26:14.965 – +18.894
  23. Jackson Wolny – 26:15.183 – +19.112
  24. Sun Anzhe – 26:15.316 – +19.245
  25. Daniella Sutton – 26:17.617 – +21.546
  26. Leon Hedfors – 26:25.281 – +1 Lap

NC:

  • Theo Palmer – 14:46.822 – +9 Laps
  • Haarni Sadiq – 16:43.990 – +9 Laps
  • Cameron Nelson – 11:14.491 – +13 Laps
  • Vegard Klemetsen – 1:53.557 – +19 Laps
  • Tommy Harfield – 0.000 – —

Championship picture: Van Langendonck leads early charge

After a turbulent opening weekend, Van Langendonck leads the Drivers’ Championship with 52 points, establishing an early advantage. Joseph Smith and Ethan Jeff-Hall sit tied in second on 37 points, while Scott Kin Lindblom and Theo Palmer remain firmly in contention.

  1. Dries Van Langendonck – 52
  2. Joseph Smith – 37
  3. Ethan Jeff Hall – 37
  4. Scott Kin Lindblom – 31
  5. Theo Palmer – 26
  6. Ethan Lennon – 18
  7. Jarrett Clark – 13
  8. Cole Hewetson – 12
  9. Lewis Wherrell – 10
  10. Ella Lloyd – 10
  11. Leon Hedfors – 10
  12. Tommy Harfield – 10
  13. Cameron Nelson – 10
  14. Jackson Wolny – 9
  15. Kit Belofsky – 8
  16. Henry Mercier – 7
  17. Piotr Orzechowski – 7
  18. Daniella Sutton – 7
  19. Cash Felber – 6
  20. Jaber Alsabah – 6
  21. Ethan Carney – 5
  22. George Proudford Nalder – 4
  23. Adam Al Azhari – 4
  24. Chiara Battig – 4
  25. Mate Kobakhidze – 4
  26. Roman Felber – 3
  27. Timo Jungling – 0
  28. Haarni Sadiq – 0
  29. Sun Anzhe – 0
  30. Alfie Slater – 0
  31. Vegard Klemetsen – 0

In the Rookie Cup, Van Langendonck also leads comfortably, ahead of Jaber Alsabah and Mate Kobakhidze, while several emerging drivers continue to close the gap.

  1. Dries Van Langendonck – 58
  2. Jaber Alsabah – 34
  3. Mate Kobakhidze – 25
  4. Leon Hedfors – 24
  5. Lewis Wherrell – 22
  6. Piotr Orzechowski – 22
  7. Timo Jungling – 17
  8. Jackson Wolny – 15
  9. Cameron Nelson – 14
  10. Sun Anzhe – 8
  11. Haarni Sadiq – 1
  12. Vegard Klemetsen – 0

Rodin Motorsport leads the Teams’ Championship with 70 points, ahead of Hitech and Virtuosi Racing, who sit level on 52 points. Meanwhile, Xcel Motorsport and Fortec Motorsport complete the top five.

  1. Rodin Motorsport – 70
  2. Hitech – 52
  3. Virtuosi Racing – 52
  4. Argenti Motorsport – 36
  5. Xcel Motorsport – 12
  6. Fortec Motorsport – 11
  7. JHR Developments – 8
  8. Chris Dittmann Racing – 0

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