2026 Italian F4 | Round 1: Misano | Aksoy leads after chaotic opener as Prema sets early benchmark

The 2026 Italian F4 Championship began at the Misano World Circuit with record-breaking numbers, changing conditions, penalties, Safety Car drama and a fierce early title fight. A 47-car entry marked the largest field in the championship’s history, immediately underlining the depth of the grid for the new campaign.

Alp Aksoy emerged as the standout driver of the weekend. The PREMA Racing rookie claimed victory in Race 1 after a penalty for teammate Niccolò Maccagnani, finished third in Race 2, and then controlled the Final to leave Misano with 82 points from a possible 90.

Maccagnani, Luka Sammalisto, David Cosma-Cristofor, Ary Bansal and David Walther also made strong early statements, while PREMA Racing established itself at the front of the Teams’ Championship.

2026 Italian F4: Misano: Free Practice: Aksoy tops opening day as US Racing and PREMA set early pace

Bearman sets the early benchmark in Group 1

Free practice immediately highlighted the depth of the 2026 Italian F4 field at Misano. With 47 drivers split into two groups, the opening sessions gave the teams their first proper indication of form before Qualifying.

Thomas Bearman made an impressive start for Van Amersfoort Racing in the first morning session. The younger brother of Formula 1 driver and 2021 Italian F4 champion Oliver Bearman topped Group 1 with a 1:36.057, placing himself immediately among the names to watch.

Behind him, Oleksandr Bondarev put Prema Racing second, just 0.049s off the pace. Noah Killion followed closely for US Racing, only 0.099s behind Bearman, ensuring the top three were covered by less than a tenth of a second.

Free Practice 1 Group 1

1. #87 Thomas Bearman – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1’36.057
2. #27 Oleksandr Bondarev – PREMA Racing – 0.049
3. #13 Noah Killion – US Racing – 0.099
4. #9 Edward Robinson – US Racing – 0.201
5. #50 Florentin Hattemer (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.230
6. #83 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 0.273
7. #19 Niccolò Maccagnani – PREMA Racing – 0.324
8. #1 Christian Costoya (R) – PREMA Racing – 0.369
9. #21 Levi Arn (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.386
10. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.409
11. #3 Alex Ruta – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.417
12. #17 Oleksandr Savinkov – US Racing – 0.463
13. #53 Pedro Lima – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.548
14. #7 Luka Sammalisto – US Racing – 0.555
15. #26 Bader Al Sulaiti – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.587
16. #16 Beco Bernoldi (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.748
17. #41 Knud Nielsen (R) – Real Racing – 0.771
18. #28 Iacopo Martinese (R) – PHM Racing – 0.811
19. #24 Nicolas Cortes – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.995
20. #42 Emily Cotty – R-ACE GP – 1.016
21. #25 Georgiy Zasov (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 1.084
22. #11 Thiago Palotini (R) – ALPHA 54 Racing – 2.161
23. #64 Ginevra Panzeri – AS Motorsport – 2.633
24. #86 Igor Polak (R) – Maffi Racing – 4.059

Aksoy puts PREMA on top overall

The fastest lap of the morning came in Group 2, where Alp Aksoy set the benchmark for PREMA Racing with a 1:35.854. That effort placed him at the top of the combined order and gave PREMA an early marker in the opening round.

Arjen Kräling confirmed US Racing’s strength with the second-fastest time in the group, while David Cosma-Cristofor added another strong Prema result in third. Ary Bansal and Andy Consani also featured near the front, keeping US Racing and R-ace GP firmly in the early mix.

Free Practice 1 Group 2

1. #10 Alp Aksoy (R) – PREMA Racing – 1’35.854
2. #62 Arjen Kräling – US Racing – 0.106
3. #98 David Cosma-Cristofor – PREMA Racing – 0.135
4. #46 Ary Bansal – US Racing – 0.182
5. #30 Andy Consani – R-ACE GP – 0.299
6. #29 Ludovico Busso – US Racing – 0.375
7. #34 Kenzo Craigie (R) – R-ACE GP – 0.483
8. #40 Andre Rodriguez – CRAM Motorsport – 0.657
9. #67 Dominik Simek (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.665
10. #6 Oscar Repetto (R) – PHM Racing – 0.761
11. #69 Kwan Ho Kingsleyv Zheng (R) – PREMA Racing – 0.826
12. #73 Lyuboslav Ruykov (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.067
13. #44 Evan Michelini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.078
14. #81 Alexander Chartier (R) – PHM Racing – 1.078
15. #51 Augustus Toniolo (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.244
16. #35 Payton Westcott – R-ACE GP – 1.277
17. #47 Roland Kuklane – PHM Racing – 1.328
18. #38 Rafaela Ferreira – CRAM Motorsport – 1.429
19. #60 Emma Felbermayr – PHM Racing – 1.438
20. #99 Fabricio Fogaça (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.470
21. #88 Vittorio Orsini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.500
22. #54 Federico Diaz – ALPHA 54 Racing – 1.853
23. #33 Tomika Gender (R) – R-ACE GP – 2.084

Sammalisto leads the afternoon charge

US Racing moved to the front in the afternoon as Luka Sammalisto led the second Group 1 session with a 1:35.744. His pace strengthened US Racing’s position before Qualifying and added another contender to an already crowded lead battle.

Noah Killion continued his consistent start by taking second in the session, while Bondarev again placed PREMA inside the top three. That run showed strong rhythm across both Practice sessions and kept the Ukrainian driver among the most competitive names of the day.

Free Practice 2 Group 1

1. #7 Luka Sammalisto – US Racing – 1’35.744
2. #13 Noah Killion – US Racing – 0.312
3. #27 Oleksandr Bondarev – PREMA Racing – 0.464
4. #83 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 0.506
5. #17 Oleksandr Savinkov – US Racing – 0.506
6. #9 Edward Robinson – US Racing – 0.555
7. #53 Pedro Alves De Lima – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.569
8. #87 Thomas Bearman – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.570
9. #21 Levi Arn (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.578
10. #1 Christian Costoya (R) – PREMA Racing – 0.579
11. #50 Florentin Hattemer (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.580
12. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.604
13. #19 Niccolò Maccagnani – PREMA Racing – 0.648
14. #26 Bader Al Sulaiti – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.763
15. #3 Alex Ruta – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.828
16. #24 Nicolas Cortes – Jenzer Motorsport – 1.018
17. #42 Emily Cotty – R-ACE GP – 1.129
18. #28 Iacopo Martinese (R) – PHM Racing – 1.156
19. #16 Bernardo Bernoldi (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.273
20. #41 Knud Nielsen (R) – Real Racing – 1.356
21. #25 Georgiy Zasov (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 1.395
22. #86 Igor Polak (R) – Maffi Racing – 1.690
23. #64 Ginevra Panzeri – AS Motorsport – 2.018
24. #11 Thiago Palotini (R) – ALPHA 54 Racing – 2.076

Cosma-Cristofor tops final Practice group

David Cosma-Cristofor ended the second Group 2 session fastest with a 1:35.777, confirming Prema’s strength across its line-up. However, Aksoy’s morning lap remained the fastest time of the day.

Kenzo Craigie placed R-ace GP second in the session, ahead of Ary Bansal and Aksoy. Kräling, Andy Consani and Ludovico Busso also stayed close to the leading pace, keeping US Racing and R-ace GP strongly represented near the front.

Free Practice 2 Group 2

1. #98 David Cosma-Cristofor – PREMA Racing – 1’35.777
2. #34 Kenzo Craigie (R) – R-ACE GP – 0.123
3. #46 Ary Bansal – US Racing – 0.144
4. #10 Alp Aksoy (R) – PREMA Racing – 0.145
5. #62 Arjen Kräling – US Racing – 0.384
6. #30 Andy Consani – R-ACE GP – 0.443
7. #29 Ludovico Busso – US Racing – 0.458
8. #51 Augustus Toniolo (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.761
9. #6 Oscar Repetto (R) – PHM Racing – 0.793
10. #67 Dominik Simek (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.812
11. #38 Rafaela Ferreira – CRAM Motorsport – 0.899
12. #60 Emma Felbermayr – PHM Racing – 0.999
13. #69 Kwan Ho Kingsleyv Zheng (R) – PREMA Racing – 1.064
14. #40 Andre Rodriguez – CRAM Motorsport – 1.191
15. #47 Roland Kuklane (R) – PHM Racing – 1.217
16. #73 Lyuboslav Ruykov (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.239
17. #35 Payton Westcott – R-ACE GP – 1.348
18. #81 Alexander Chartier (R) – PHM Racing – 1.376
19. #88 Vittorio Orsini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.500
20. #44 Evan Michelini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.634
21. #99 Fabricio Fogaça (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.702
22. #54 Federico Diaz – ALPHA 54 Racing – 1.757
23. #33 Tamas Gender (R) – R-ACE GP – 1.788

PREMA and US Racing emerge as early favourites

Across the four Practice sessions, Prema Racing and US Racing looked like the leading forces. Aksoy, Cosma-Cristofor and Bondarev gave PREMA a strong platform, while Sammalisto, Killion, Bansal, Kräling, Robinson and Savinkov showed the depth of US Racing’s line-up.

Bearman’s early pace gave Van Amersfoort Racing encouragement, while Craigie and Consani showed promise for R-ace GP. David Walther also caught attention for Maffi Racing, hinting at the podium potential he would later convert during the weekend.

2026 Italian F4: Misano: Qualifying: Sammalisto takes overall pole as Aksoy leads Group B for PREMA

Sammalisto sets the overall benchmark

Qualifying for the opening round of the 2026 Italian F4 Championship at Misano produced a strong statement from Luka Sammalisto. The US Racing driver topped Group 1 with a 1:35.492, setting the fastest overall time and securing pole position for Race 2 and Race 3.

Sammalisto established himself at the front from the first representative laps and improved on his final attempt. His pace confirmed US Racing’s strength after a competitive Free Practice programme and gave the Finnish driver the best possible platform for the opening weekend.

Maccagnani leads PREMA’s Group 1 challenge

Niccolò Maccagnani placed second in Group 1 for PREMA Racing, 0.406s behind Sammalisto. The Ferrari Driver Academy driver kept himself firmly in contention and ensured PREMA remained close to the top despite Sammalisto’s advantage.

Edward Robinson completed the top three for US Racing, while David Walther delivered an impressive fourth place for Maffi Racing with the same gap as Robinson. Oleksandr Savinkov followed in fifth, giving US Racing three drivers inside the top five.

Bondarev and Costoya stay in the mix

Oleksandr Bondarev took sixth for PREMA Racing, ahead of US Racing’s Noah Killion. Christian Costoya, racing in McLaren colours for PREMA, finished eighth and led the Rookie runners in the group.

Bader Al Sulaiti placed Jenzer Motorsport ninth, while Pedro Lima completed the top 10 for Van Amersfoort Racing. The session again showed the strength of the leading teams, with US Racing and PREMA controlling much of the upper order.

Qualifying Group 1

1. #7 Luka Sammalisto – US Racing – 1’35.492
2. #19 Niccolò Maccagnani – PREMA Racing – 0.406
3. #9 Edward Robinson – US Racing – 0.416
4. #83 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 0.418
5. #17 Oleksandr Savinkov – US Racing – 0.477
6. #27 Oleksandr Bondarev – PREMA Racing – 0.523
7. #13 Noah Killion – US Racing – 0.553
8. #1 Christian Costoya (R) – PREMA Racing – 0.604
9. #26 Bader Al Sulaiti – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.654
10. #53 Pedro Alves De Lima – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.699
11. #50 Florentin Hattemer (R) – Trident Motorsport – 0.716
12. #87 Thomas Bearman – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.755
13. #3 Alex Ruta – Van Amersfoort Racing – 0.784
14. #21 Levi Arn (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 0.861
15. #22 Elia Weiss – Jenzer Motorsport – 1.012
16. #24 Nicolas Cortes – Jenzer Motorsport – 1.134
17. #41 Knud Nielsen (R) – Real Racing – 1.191
18. #42 Emily Cotty – R-ACE GP – 1.282
19. #25 Georgiy Zasov (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 1.351
20. #28 Iacopo Martinese (R) – PHM Racing – 1.397
21. #16 Bernardo Bernoldi (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.499
22. #11 Thiago Palotini (R) – ALPHA 54 Racing – 1.838
23. #86 Igor Polak (R) – Maffi Racing – 1.978
24. #64 Ginevra Panzeri – AS Motorsport – 2.325

Aksoy secures Group B pole

Alp Aksoy led Group 2 for PREMA Racing and secured pole position for Race 1. The Turkish rookie set a 1:35.637, putting himself at the head of his series and continuing the pace he had already shown during Free Practice.

David Cosma-Cristofor backed up PREMA’s strength by finishing second, just 0.042s behind Aksoy. His narrow gap kept the pressure on his teammate and confirmed that PREMA had strong pace across both Qualifying groups.

R-ace GP’s Mercedes juniors impress

R-ace GP also made a strong impression in Group 2. Mercedes junior Andy Consani took third, 0.152s off Aksoy’s benchmark, while fellow Mercedes-backed driver Kenzo Craigie finished fourth.

Ludovico Busso placed fifth for US Racing, ahead of teammates Ary Bansal and Arjen Kräling. Oscar Repetto took eighth for PHM Racing, while PREMA’s Ho Kingsley Zheng Kwan and Trident Motorsport’s Augustus Toniolo completed the top 10.

Red flag disrupts Group 2

The second Qualifying session faced a red flag after an off-track incident involving Tomika Gender. Officials later deleted the Hungarian driver’s fastest lap, adding further difficulty to his evening.

Despite the interruption, Aksoy kept control at the front and gave PREMA pole for Race 1. Sammalisto’s Group 1 time, however, remained the fastest overall, giving US Racing pole for Race 2 and Race 3.

Qualifying Group 2

1. #10 Alp Aksoy (R) – PREMA Racing – 1’35.637
2. #98 David Cosma-Cristofor – PREMA Racing – 0.042
3. #30 Andy Consani – R-ACE GP – 0.152
4. #34 Kenzo Craigie (R) – R-ACE GP – 0.200
5. #29 Ludovico Busso – US Racing – 0.257
6. #46 Ary Bansal – US Racing – 0.318
7. #62 Arjen Kräling – US Racing – 0.503
8. #6 Oscar Repetto (R) – PHM Racing – 0.579
9. #69 Kwan Ho Kingsleyv Zheng (R) – PREMA Racing – 0.998
10. #51 Augustus Toniolo (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.018
11. #40 Andre Rodriguez – CRAM Motorsport – 1.037
12. #60 Emma Felbermayr – PHM Racing – 1.116
13. #38 Rafaela Ferreira – CRAM Motorsport – 1.144
14. #67 Dominik Simek (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.167
15. #47 Roland Kuklane (R) – PHM Racing – 1.205
16. #35 Payton Westcott – R-ACE GP – 1.211
17. #44 Evan Michelini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.248
18. #81 Alexander Chartier (R) – PHM Racing – 1.397
19. #73 Lyuboslav Ruykov (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1.549
20. #88 Vittorio Orsini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.589
21. #54 Federico Diaz – ALPHA 54 Racing – 1.837
22. #99 Fabricio Fogaça (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1.911
23. #33 Tamas Gender (R) – R-ACE GP – 1.970

Female Trophy battle takes shape

The Female Trophy contenders also set their starting positions during Qualifying. Emma Felbermayr led that group for PHM Racing and secured a place on the eighth row for Race 1.

Rafaela Ferreira followed closely for CRAM Motorsport, while Emily Cotty, Payton Westcott and Ginevra Panzeri prepared to fight through the pack during the opening races. The spread of female contenders across several teams promised a close class battle throughout the weekend.

2026 Italian F4: Misano: Race 1: Aksoy inherits opening win after Maccagnani penalty

Maccagnani launches into the lead

Race 1 initially looked like Niccolò Maccagnani’s breakthrough moment in Italian F4. The PREMA Racing driver started second, reacted superbly when teammate Alp Aksoy hesitated from pole, and swept into the lead before the field reached the opening sequence of corners.

From there, Maccagnani controlled the race with confidence. He managed the pace, handled the Safety Car restart cleanly and set the fastest lap on the final tour, appearing to secure his maiden victory on track.

Aksoy recovers after slow start

Aksoy lost the advantage at the launch, but he quickly limited the damage. The Turkish rookie fought back through the opening corners and reclaimed second place on the road, keeping PREMA in full control of the lead battle.

Although Maccagnani kept him at arm’s length, Aksoy maintained enough pace to secure a strong result. That consistency proved decisive after the race, when the Stewards reviewed the start procedure.

Penalty changes the result

Officials handed Maccagnani a 10-second penalty for a starting grid infringement after he started his engine earlier than permitted under the regulations. The penalty dropped him from first to fourth and handed Aksoy the opening victory of the season.

The decision also promoted Oleksandr Bondarev to second place. The Williams Driver Academy driver delivered one of the race’s standout performances, climbing from the seventh row to put another PREMA car on the podium.

Bansal takes first podium after fierce midfield fight

Ary Bansal inherited third for US Racing after Maccagnani’s penalty, completing the podium after an eventful race full of overtakes and close battles.

The fight for the lower top-five positions proved particularly intense. Kenzo Craigie and Oleksandr Savinkov battled hard before contact ended their challenge for the leading places. Arjen Kräling then came through to finish fifth, while Bader Al Sulaiti secured sixth for Jenzer Motorsport.

Bearman and Hattemer make progress

Thomas Bearman recovered strongly from the eighth row of the grid to finish seventh for Van Amersfoort Racing. His drive added to the pace he had shown during Free Practice and gave the Dutch team useful early points.

Florentin Hattemer finished eighth overall and second in the Rookie classification, giving Trident Motorsport a strong result on its Italian F4 debut. Savinkov crossed the line ninth, while Knud Nielsen completed the top 10 for Real Racing and also took third in the Rookie order.

Incidents shape the lower order

Race 1 featured several costly incidents across the field. Christian Costoya and Edward Robinson both lost ground early and had to pit after an incident that also involved Ho Kingsley Zheng Kwan, triggering the Safety Car.

Andy Consani and Federico Diaz retired after contact between their cars, while Lyuboslav Ruykov, Augustus Toniolo and Alexander Chartier also failed to reach the chequered flag after another collision. PHM Racing teammates Emma Felbermayr and Iacopo Martinese also made contact while fighting near the top 10.

Cotty wins Female Trophy opener

Rafaela Ferreira looked set for a strong Female Trophy result before a late problem delayed the CRAM Motorsport driver on the final lap. Emily Cotty capitalised to take the class win for R-ace GP.

Payton Westcott completed a one-two in the Female Trophy for R-ace GP, while Ginevra Panzeri finished third in the class for PA Racing.

Race 1 Gr.B-Gr.C

1. #19 Niccolò Maccagnani – PREMA Racing – 27’52.600
2. #10 Alp Aksoy (R) – PREMA Racing – 1.170
3. #27 Oleksandr Bondarev – PREMA Racing – 3.324
4. #46 Ary Bansal – US Racing – 9.509
5. #62 Arjen Kräling – US Racing – 10.199
6. #26 Bader Al Sulaiti – Jenzer Motorsport – 11.473
7. #87 Thomas Bearman – Van Amersfoort Racing – 12.947
8. #50 Florentin Hattemer (R) – Trident Motorsport – 16.373
9. #17 Oleksandr Savinkov – US Racing – 21.970
10. #41 Knud Nielsen (R) – Real Racing – 23.180
11. #47 Roland Kuklane (R) – PHM Racing – 25.347
12. #9 Edward Robinson – US Racing – 25.545
13. #21 Levi Arn (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 26.430
14. #16 Bernardo Bernoldi (R) – Trident Motorsport – 28.538
15. #1 Christian Costoya (R) – PREMA Racing – 28.801
16. #42 Emily Cotty – R-ACE GP – 30.725
17. #99 Fabricio Fogaça (R) – AKM Motorsport – 31.589
18. #35 Payton Westcott – R-ACE GP – 32.165
19. #86 Igor Polak (R) – Maffi Racing – 38.487
20. #64 Ginevra Panzeri – PA Racing – 45.644
21. #28 Iacopo Martinese (R) – PHM Racing – 1’25.650
22. #60 Emma Felbermayr – PHM Racing – 1’33.888
23. #38 Rafaela Ferreira – CRAM Motorsport – 1 Lap
24. #34 Kenzo Craigie (R) – R-ACE GP – 4 Laps

Retired / Not Classified

RET. #81 Alexander Chartier (R) – PHM Racing – 8 Laps
RET. #51 Augustus Toniolo (R) – Trident Motorsport – 10 Laps
RET. #73 Lyuboslav Ruykov (R) – Trident Motorsport – 12 Laps
RET. #30 Andy Consani – R-ACE GP – 12 Laps
RET. #54 Federico Diaz – ALPHA 54 Racing – 13 Laps
RET. #69 Kwan Ho Kingsleyv Zheng (R) – PREMA Racing – RET

2026 Italian F4: Misano: Race 2: Sammalisto converts pole into maiden Italian F4 win

Sammalisto controls from the front

Race 2 gave Luka Sammalisto the chance to convert the pace he had shown in Qualifying, and the US Racing driver delivered. Starting from pole position, the Finnish driver kept control at the start and led the race from lights to flag.

Sammalisto managed the gaps well throughout the contest and never allowed David Cosma-Cristofor to launch a sustained attack for the lead. His calm drive gave US Racing its first victory of the 2026 Italian F4 season and confirmed him as one of the early title contenders.

Cosma-Cristofor keeps pressure on

David Cosma-Cristofor chased Sammalisto throughout the race for PREMA Racing. The Romanian driver stayed close enough to keep the leader honest, but he could not find a way past the US Racing car.

Second place still gave Cosma-Cristofor a strong points haul and strengthened PREMA Racing’s position in the Teams’ Championship after Aksoy’s Race 1 victory.

Aksoy adds another Rookie win

Alp Aksoy completed the podium in third and continued his excellent start to the weekend. After inheriting victory in Race 1, the Turkish PREMA Racing driver added another strong finish and secured back-to-back Rookie class wins.

Aksoy’s result also kept him firmly at the head of the early championship picture, especially with points available across every race under the new format.

US Racing shows depth again

Behind the podium, US Racing again showed the strength of its line-up. Edward Robinson finished fourth after a solid and consistent race, while Arjen Kräling took sixth.

The team also had Ludovico Busso inside the top 10 in eighth, underlining its ability to score strongly with several cars. That depth kept US Racing close to PREMA Racing in the early Teams’ Championship fight.

Bondarev and Walther collect key points

Oleksandr Bondarev finished fifth for PREMA Racing, adding another strong result after his Race 1 podium. The Williams Driver Academy driver kept himself among the leading contenders despite not matching the podium pace in Race 2.

David Walther continued Maffi Racing’s promising start to the weekend by finishing seventh. After showing strong pace in Free Practice and Qualifying, the Danish driver again proved that Maffi Racing could challenge inside the front group.

Safety Car interrupts midfield battle

The race featured one Safety Car period after contact between Georgiy Zasov and Fabricio Fogaça left Zasov stranded. The interruption briefly compressed the field, but Sammalisto controlled the restart and protected his lead.

Further back, the Safety Car added pressure to an already busy midfield, where several drivers fought closely for the final points-paying positions.

Repetto and Craigie complete Rookie podium

Oscar Repetto finished just outside the overall top 10 but secured second in the Rookie classification for PHM Racing. Kenzo Craigie followed as the third-best Rookie for R-ace GP, adding another class podium to a weekend in which the Mercedes junior showed flashes of strong pace.

With Aksoy again winning the Rookie class, Repetto and Craigie remained important challengers in the secondary standings ahead of Sunday’s races.

Sammalisto joins the winners’ list

Sammalisto’s Race 2 victory added a second winner to the weekend after Aksoy’s Race 1 success. More importantly, it proved that US Racing had the pace to challenge PREMA Racing directly at the front.

With Aksoy, Sammalisto, Cosma-Cristofor, Bondarev and the rest of the leading pack all scoring strongly, the opening round continued to build into a tightly contested championship fight.

Race 2 Gr.A-Gr.B

1. #7 Luka Sammalisto – US Racing – 26’48.745
2. #98 David Cosma-Cristofor – PREMA Racing – 1.138
3. #10 Alp Aksoy (R) – PREMA Racing – 2.782
4. #9 Edward Robinson – US Racing – 5.494
5. #27 Oleksandr Bondarev – PREMA Racing – 8.155
6. #62 Arjen Kräling – US Racing – 8.405
7. #83 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 13.553
8. #29 Ludovico Busso – US Racing – 14.072
9. #87 Thomas Bearman – Van Amersfoort Racing – 14.166
10. #26 Bader Al Sulaiti – Jenzer Motorsport – 14.678
11. #6 Oscar Repetto (R) – PHM Racing – 16.496
12. #53 Pedro Alves De Lima – Van Amersfoort Racing – 18.081
13. #34 Kenzo Craigie (R) – R-ACE GP – 18.399
14. #24 Nicolas Cortes – Jenzer Motorsport – 19.666
15. #51 Augustus Toniolo (R) – Trident Motorsport – 20.219
16. #35 Payton Westcott – R-ACE GP – 22.367
17. #40 Andre Rodriguez – CRAM Motorsport – 24.163
18. #73 Lyuboslav Ruykov (R) – Trident Motorsport – 26.144
19. #3 Alex Ruta – Van Amersfoort Racing – 26.202
20. #16 Bernardo Bernoldi (R) – Trident Motorsport – 27.246
21. #44 Evan Michelini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 29.532
22. #42 Emily Cotty – R-ACE GP – 30.197
23. #38 Rafaela Ferreira – CRAM Motorsport – 30.469
24. #88 Vittorio Orsini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 32.818
25. #11 Thiago Palotini (R) – ALPHA 54 Racing – 34.030
26. #13 Noah Killion – US Racing – 34.153
27. #33 Tamas Gender (R) – R-ACE GP – 38.197
28. #67 Dominik Simek (R) – Trident Motorsport – 42.403
29. #64 Ginevra Panzeri – PA Racing – 43.136
30. #99 Fabricio Fogaça (R) – AKM Motorsport – 1 Lap

Retired / Not Classified

RET. #25 Georgiy Zasov (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 14 Laps

2026 Italian F4: Misano: Race 3: Maccagnani wins after Sammalisto suffers late heartbreak

Damp conditions force a Safety Car start

Race 3 began in dramatically different conditions after overnight rain left the Misano World Circuit damp and slippery. Race Control started the field behind the Safety Car, giving drivers two controlled laps before racing properly began.

Luka Sammalisto started from pole for US Racing and led the field once racing got underway. Behind him, PREMA Racing teammates Niccolò Maccagnani and David Cosma-Cristofor stayed close, keeping pressure on the leader as the track slowly improved.

Sammalisto controls before late drama

Sammalisto looked in control through the early stages. The Finnish driver managed the tricky conditions well and appeared on course to add a second victory to his weekend after winning Race 2.

Maccagnani and Cosma-Cristofor kept him within reach, but Sammalisto held the advantage until the closing stages. His race changed during a second Safety Car period, which came after Vittorio Orsini went off following contact with Thiago Palotini.

Technical issue hands Maccagnani the lead

During the neutralisation, Sammalisto suddenly slowed on the back straight with a loss of power. The issue forced him to pull to the side of the track and ended his hopes of converting pole into victory.

Maccagnani inherited the lead for PREMA Racing, with Cosma-Cristofor moving into second. Race Control then released the field for a final flying lap, leaving Maccagnani to defend his new advantage under pressure.

Maccagnani seals redemption win

Maccagnani handled the restart cleanly and secured victory, giving himself a strong response after losing the Race 1 win through a post-race penalty. The Ferrari Driver Academy driver had already shown front-running pace across the weekend, and Race 3 finally gave him the result to match it.

Cosma-Cristofor finished second, completing a PREMA Racing one-two. The Romanian driver again delivered a composed points-scoring drive and continued his consistent start to the season.

Walther delivers Maffi Racing podium

David Walther completed the podium for Maffi Racing after another strong drive. The Danish driver had shown pace from Free Practice onwards, and third place gave Maffi Racing its first podium of the season.

His result also confirmed that Maffi Racing could fight with the leading teams on merit. Walther stayed calm in difficult conditions and capitalised when the race opened up in the final stages.

US Racing remains in the fight

Oleksandr Savinkov finished fourth for US Racing, salvaging a strong result after Sammalisto’s retirement from the lead. Andy Consani followed in fifth for R-ace GP after battling near the front, while Ludovico Busso took sixth for US Racing.

Noah Killion finished seventh, ahead of Ary Bansal and Pedro Lima. Oscar Repetto completed the top 10 and claimed the Rookie victory for PHM Racing, moving himself closer to Aksoy in the Rookie standings.

Felbermayr takes Female Trophy honours

Emma Felbermayr secured the Female Trophy win for PHM Racing after finishing 16th overall. The Austrian driver handled the mixed conditions well and claimed maximum class points.

Behind her, the other Female Trophy contenders faced a more difficult race, but Felbermayr’s result strengthened her position in the early secondary championship fight.

Maccagnani joins the winners’ circle

Race 3 added a third different on-track winner to the Misano weekend and brought Maccagnani firmly back into the championship conversation. Sammalisto’s technical issue denied US Racing another victory, but his pace remained clear.

With Aksoy leading the standings, Maccagnani winning Race 3, Cosma-Cristofor consistently scoring heavily and Walther breaking through for Maffi Racing, the opening round continued to produce a wide and competitive title picture.

Race 3 Gr.A-Gr.C

1. #19 Niccolò Maccagnani – PREMA Racing – 27’02.458
2. #98 David Cosma-Cristofor – PREMA Racing – 0.526
3. #83 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 0.985
4. #17 Oleksandr Savinkov – US Racing – 2.339
5. #30 Andy Consani – R-ACE GP – 2.658
6. #29 Ludovico Busso – US Racing – 3.023
7. #13 Noah Killion – US Racing – 3.260
8. #46 Ary Bansal – US Racing – 4.176
9. #53 Pedro Alves De Lima – Van Amersfoort Racing – 4.604
10. #6 Oscar Repetto (R) – PHM Racing – 5.344
11. #3 Alex Ruta – Van Amersfoort Racing – 5.395
12. #40 Andre Rodriguez – CRAM Motorsport – 5.790
13. #50 Florentin Hattemer (R) – Trident Motorsport – 6.688
14. #21 Levi Arn (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 6.972
15. #69 Kwan Ho Kingsleyv Zheng (R) – PREMA Racing – 7.099
16. #60 Emma Felbermayr – PHM Racing – 7.359
17. #24 Nicolas Cortes – Jenzer Motorsport – 7.738
18. #47 Roland Kuklane (R) – PHM Racing – 8.264
19. #1 Christian Costoya (R) – PREMA Racing – 8.488
20. #41 Knud Nielsen (R) – Real Racing – 8.493
21. #28 Iacopo Martinese (R) – PHM Racing – 9.643
22. #25 Georgiy Zasov (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 10.845
23. #54 Federico Diaz – ALPHA 54 Racing – 12.308
24. #67 Dominik Simek (R) – Trident Motorsport – 12.953
25. #11 Thiago Palotini (R) – ALPHA 54 Racing – 13.964
26. #33 Tamas Gender (R) – R-ACE GP – 14.055
27. #86 Igor Polak (R) – Maffi Racing – 14.389
28. #44 Evan Michelini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 36.241
29. #7 Luka Sammalisto – US Racing – 4 Laps

Retired / Not Classified

RET. #88 Vittorio Orsini (R) – AKM Motorsport – 6 Laps

2026 Italian F4: Misano: Final: Aksoy wins slippery showdown to leave as championship leader

Opening-lap chaos triggers early Safety Car

The Final brought together the top 36 drivers from the three qualifying heats, and the race immediately delivered drama. Rain arrived earlier than expected and left the field on slick Pirelli tyres in difficult conditions, making the start especially challenging.

The race turned chaotic almost instantly when Thomas Bearman stalled on the grid. Nicolas Cortes hit the Van Amersfoort Racing driver from behind, while Andre Rodriguez and Augustus Toniolo also picked up damage in the aftermath. All drivers escaped unharmed, but the incident ended their races and brought out the Safety Car.

Aksoy takes control after restart

Once racing resumed, Alp Aksoy placed PREMA Racing at the front and quickly became the driver to beat. The Turkish rookie managed the slippery track surface with maturity and kept his car under control while several rivals struggled for grip.

Niccolò Maccagnani initially battled his teammate near the front, but he lost momentum as the race developed. The Ferrari Driver Academy driver dropped down the order, leaving Aksoy to defend against a charging pack led by Ary Bansal and David Walther.

Bansal charges into contention

Ary Bansal produced one of the strongest drives of the Final for US Racing. Starting sixth, the Indian driver attacked after the Safety Car restart and picked his way through the leading group with confidence.

Once he reached second, Bansal kept Aksoy under pressure until the closing laps. He stayed within striking distance and finished just 0.265s behind the winner, securing another major podium after his Race 1 top-three result.

Walther confirms Maffi Racing breakthrough

David Walther completed the podium and capped an outstanding opening weekend for Maffi Racing. After taking third in Race 3, the Danish driver repeated the result in the Final and proved that his earlier pace had not come by chance.

Walther fought strongly throughout the race and stayed in contention from start to finish. His second podium of the weekend placed him firmly inside the top five of the Drivers’ Championship after the opening round.

US Racing packs the front group

Oleksandr Savinkov finished fourth for US Racing after an intense fight with teammate Luka Sammalisto. The Finnish driver, who had already won Race 2 and suffered heartbreak while leading Race 3, finished fifth and still left Misano with important points.

US Racing also placed Arjen Kräling eighth and Edward Robinson 14th, keeping the German squad close to PREMA Racing in the Teams’ Championship despite Aksoy’s victory.

PREMA secures vital points

Maccagnani eventually finished sixth after losing ground during the race, but his Race 3 victory kept him second in the championship leaving Misano. Andy Consani followed in seventh for R-ace GP after recovering strongly from the back half of the grid.

Kräling, Oleksandr Bondarev and David Cosma-Cristofor completed the top 10. Cosma-Cristofor’s result, combined with two earlier second-place finishes, ensured he remained third in the Drivers’ Championship after the opening round.

Rookie and Female Trophy stories shift again

Aksoy also won the Rookie classification in the Final, further strengthening his position at the top of both championships. Kenzo Craigie finished second among the Rookies for R-ace GP, while Christian Costoya completed the class podium for PREMA Racing after recovering from a difficult weekend.

In the Female Trophy, Payton Westcott claimed victory for R-ace GP ahead of teammate Emily Cotty. Emma Felbermayr qualified for the Final but could not start because of a technical issue, which allowed Westcott to move level with Cotty at the top of the class standings.

Aksoy leaves Misano with momentum

Aksoy’s Final victory capped a near-perfect opening round. With wins in Race 1 and the Final, plus third place in Race 2, he collected 82 points from a possible 90 and became the first leader of the 2026 Italian F4 Championship.

PREMA Racing also left Misano in control of the Teams’ Championship, but US Racing, Maffi Racing and R-ace GP all showed enough pace to suggest the title fight will not stay one-sided for long.

Race 4 Final

1. #10 Alp Aksoy (R) – PREMA Racing – 27’18.352
2. #46 Ary Bansal – US Racing – 0.265
3. #83 David Walther – Maffi Racing – 0.555
4. #17 Oleksandr Savinkov – US Racing – 2.639
5. #7 Luka Sammalisto – US Racing – 3.144
6. #19 Niccolò Maccagnani – PREMA Racing – 6.156
7. #30 Andy Consani – R-ACE GP – 6.220
8. #62 Arjen Kräling – US Racing – 9.163
9. #27 Oleksandr Bondarev – PREMA Racing – 9.563
10. #98 David Cosma-Cristofor – PREMA Racing – 10.033
11. #3 Alex Ruta – Van Amersfoort Racing – 11.510
12. #26 Bader Al Sulaiti – Jenzer Motorsport – 12.114
13. #34 Kenzo Craigie (R) – R-ACE GP – 13.239
14. #9 Edward Robinson – US Racing – 13.364
15. #1 Christian Costoya (R) – PREMA Racing – 14.042
16. #21 Levi Arn (R) – Jenzer Motorsport – 14.676
17. #73 Lyuboslav Ruykov (R) – Trident Motorsport – 16.502
18. #69 Kwan Ho Kingsleyv Zheng (R) – PREMA Racing – 16.826
19. #41 Knud Nielsen (R) – Real Racing – 18.591
20. #6 Oscar Repetto (R) – PHM Racing – 20.540
21. #35 Payton Westcott – R-ACE GP – 22.811
22. #28 Iacopo Martinese (R) – PHM Racing – 24.029
23. #42 Emily Cotty – R-ACE GP – 24.387
24. #16 Bernardo Bernoldi (R) – Trident Motorsport – 24.862
25. #29 Ludovico Busso – US Racing – 25.845
26. #86 Igor Polak (R) – Maffi Racing – 27.061
27. #99 Fabricio Fogaça (R) – AKM Motorsport – 28.408
28. #47 Roland Kuklane (R) – PHM Racing – 38.559
29. #13 Noah Killion – US Racing – 57.205
30. #53 Pedro Alves De Lima – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1’06.122
31. #50 Florentin Hattemer (R) – Trident Motorsport – 1’07.029

Retired / Not Classified

RET. #60 Emma Felbermayr – PHM Racing – RET
RET. #24 Nicolas Cortes – Jenzer Motorsport – RET
RET. #87 Thomas Bearman – Van Amersfoort Racing – RET
RET. #51 Augustus Toniolo (R) – Trident Motorsport – RET
RET. #40 Andre Rodriguez – CRAM Motorsport – RET

Drivers’ Championship: Aksoy leads after near-perfect opening round

Alp Aksoy leaves Misano as the first Drivers’ Championship leader of the 2026 Italian F4 season. The PREMA Racing rookie claimed victory in Race 1, finished third in Race 2 and won the Final, giving him 82 points after the opening round.

Niccolò Maccagnani sits second after a dramatic weekend that included a Race 3 victory, while David Cosma-Cristofor holds third following two second-place finishes. Ary Bansal and David Walther complete a close top five.

Drivers’ Championship standings

1. Alp Aksoy – 82
2. Niccolò Maccagnani – 66
3. David Cosma-Cristofor – 61
4. Ary Bansal – 60
5. David Walther – 58
6. Oleksandr Bondarev – 54
7. Oleksandr Savinkov – 50
8. Luka Sammalisto – 48
9. Arjen Kräling – 46
10. Andy Consani – 32
11. Bader Al Sulaiti – 31
12. Ludovico Busso – 28
13. Edu Robinson – 28
14. Thomas Bearman – 24
15. Florentin Hattemer – 18
16. Oscar Repetto – 17
17. Pedro Lima – 16
18. Aleksander Ruta – 16
19. Noah Killion – 14
20. Knud Nielsen – 9
21. Roland Kuklane – 8
22. Kenzo Craigie – 8
23. Bernardo Bernoldi – 4
24. Levi Arn – 4
25. Christian Costoya – 3
26. Nicolás Cortés – 2
27. Kingsley Zheng – 2
28. Emily Cotty – 1
29. Augustus Toniolo – 1
30. Emma Felbermayr – 1
31. Fabricio Fogaça – 0
32. Payton Westcott – 0
33. Andre Rodriguez – 0
34. Lyuboslav Ruykov – 0
35. Igor Polak – 0
36. Iacopo Martinese – 0
37. Ginevra Panzeri – 0
38. Evan Michelini – 0
39. Georgiy Zasov – 0
40. Federico Díaz – 0
41. Rafaela Ferreira – 0
42. Dominik Šimek – 0
43. Vittorio Orsini – 0
44. Thiago Palotini – 0
45. Tamás Gender – 0
46. Alexander Chartier – 0
47. Elia Weiss – 0

Rookie Championship: Aksoy heads Repetto and Hattemer

Aksoy also leads the Rookie Championship after a strong class performance across the opening round. Oscar Repetto keeps the pressure on in second after winning the Rookie classification in Race 3, while Florentin Hattemer holds third following an impressive start with Trident Motorsport.

Rookie Championship standings

1. Alp Aksoy – 60
2. Oscar Repetto – 56
3. Florentin Hattemer – 52
4. Roland Kuklane – 38
5. Knud Nielsen – 36
6. Levi Arn – 34
7. Bernardo Bernoldi – 34
8. Christian Costoya – 32
9. Kenzo Craigie – 30
10. Iacopo Martinese – 21
11. Augustus Toniolo – 20
12. Kingsley Zheng – 20
13. Fabricio Fogaça – 20
14. Lyuboslav Ruykov – 18
15. Thiago Palotini – 18
16. Dominik Šimek – 17
17. Evan Michelini – 16
18. Tamás Gender – 15
19. Igor Polak – 14
20. Vittorio Orsini – 12
21. Georgiy Zasov – 10
22. Alexander Chartier – 0

Women’s Championship: Cotty and Westcott tied at the top

Emily Cotty and Payton Westcott leave Misano level on points at the top of the Women’s Championship. Cotty won the first Female Trophy battle, while Westcott responded later in the weekend to match her total. Emma Felbermayr sits third after taking class victory in Race 3.

Women’s Championship standings

1. Emily Cotty – 56
2. Payton Westcott – 56
3. Emma Felbermayr – 48
4. Ginevra Panzeri – 40
5. Rafaela Ferreira – 38

Teams’ Championship: PREMA Racing leads US Racing

PREMA Racing leads the Teams’ Championship after a dominant opening round at Misano. Aksoy, Maccagnani, Cosma-Cristofor and Bondarev all scored heavily, helping the Italian squad build an early advantage over US Racing.

US Racing sits second after Sammalisto’s Race 2 win and strong results from Bansal, Savinkov, Kräling and Robinson. Van Amersfoort Racing holds third, while Maffi Racing’s podiums with Walther move it into fourth.

Teams’ Championship standings

1. PREMA Racing – 160
2. US Racing – 126
3. Van Amersfoort Racing – 48
4. Maffi Racing – 36
5. Jenzer Motorsport – 31
6. PHM Racing – 26
7. R-ace GP – 23
8. Trident Motorsport – 23
9. Real Racing – 9
10. AKM Motorsport – 0
11. CRAM Motorsport – 0
12. AS Motorsport – 0
13. Alpha 54 Racing – 0

Conclusion: Aksoy sets the tone as Italian F4 opens with depth and drama

The 2026 Italian F4 Championship started with the intensity expected from a record-breaking 47-car grid. Misano delivered close competition from Free Practice, a split Qualifying battle between US Racing and PREMA Racing, four eventful races and a constantly shifting order across the leading pack.

Aksoy emerged as the early benchmark after combining speed, consistency and composure in difficult conditions. His two wins and Race 2 podium gave him the Drivers’ Championship lead, while his Rookie Championship advantage confirmed the strength of his opening weekend.

However, the title fight already looks far from settled. Maccagnani showed race-winning pace despite his Race 1 penalty, Cosma-Cristofor scored consistently, Bansal produced standout recovery drives, and Walther gave Maffi Racing a major breakthrough with back-to-back podiums.

Sammalisto also proved US Racing’s front-running potential with pole positions and a Race 2 win, even though a technical issue denied him another likely victory in Race 3. Behind them, the Rookie and Women’s Championship battles also began with little separation, setting up competitive fights across every category.

PREMA Racing leaves Misano in control of the Teams’ Championship, but US Racing, Maffi Racing, R-ace GP and several other challengers showed enough pace to keep the season wide open. After such a dramatic opener, the championship now heads to Vallelunga with Aksoy carrying the momentum and the rest of the field already under pressure to respond.