The Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship will stage its biggest season to date in 2026, expanding to six rounds and 12 races across Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The third edition of the FIA-certified championship will run from October to December, with the opening four rounds taking place at Jeddah Corniche Circuit before the field moves to Lusail International Circuit for the final two meetings. The schedule also includes three pre-event test days, creating an intensive programme as the series continues to grow its presence across the Gulf region.
ALTAWKILAT Motorsport officially launched the new campaign in July, describing 2026 as the championship’s most ambitious season yet. Alongside the expanded calendar, the series will continue to provide a pathway for young Saudi and international drivers moving from karting into single-seater competition.
Jeddah to stage opening four rounds
Jeddah Corniche Circuit will form the backbone of the 2026 calendar, hosting eight of the season’s 12 races across two separate blocks in October and November.
The first pre-event test takes place on 1 October before the opening round runs on 2–3 October. Drivers will then remain at the Formula 1 venue for Round 2 on 7–8 October, giving the championship two meetings within its opening eight days.
After a break of just over three weeks, the field will return to Jeddah for the second part of the Saudi Arabian leg. The official schedule lists another pre-event test on 31 October, followed by Round 3 on 1–2 November. Round 4 then concludes the championship’s Jeddah programme on 6–7 November.
The concentration of four rounds at one venue gives drivers substantial mileage around one of the region’s most demanding circuits. However, the rapid succession of events will also place a premium on consistency, with 67 per cent of the championship races completed before the series leaves Saudi Arabia.
Lusail to decide the 2026 championship
The championship will cross into Qatar for its final two rounds, marking the continuation of its regional expansion beyond Saudi Arabia.
Lusail International Circuit will host a pre-event test on 7 December before Round 5 takes place on 8–9 December. The season will then conclude at the same circuit on 13–14 December, when the third Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian champion will be crowned.
Lusail provides a contrasting challenge to Jeddah. Both carry FIA Grade 1 status and host Formula 1, but the permanent Qatari circuit offers a different combination of long-radius corners and sustained high-speed sections compared with Jeddah’s fast street-circuit configuration. The move should therefore require teams and drivers to adapt quickly after spending the majority of the campaign at one venue.
By placing four races at Lusail across the final two rounds, the championship has also created a substantial points opportunity at the end of the season. Any title fight that remains open leaving Jeddah will therefore face two decisive meetings in Qatar within the space of a week.
Expanded format increases track time
The 2026 Championship Guide outlines a six-round, 12-race campaign supported by three official pre-event test days. The published schedule places one test before each of the championship’s three two-round blocks, allowing competitors additional mileage before racing begins at each stage of the season.
That approach forms part of a wider expansion for the championship’s third edition. ALTAWKILAT Motorsport said the season would introduce a revised competition format designed to provide drivers with more track time and additional opportunities to develop their skills.
Mohammed Abduljawad, Chairman and CEO of ALTAWKILAT, highlighted the growth of the championship when the 2026 season launched.
“We are proud to launch the third edition of the Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, which represents another important step in the development of motorsport in the Kingdom. Following the success of the championship to date, the new season will be more advanced than ever, with an expanded calendar, a new competition format and continued regional growth.”
The championship expects up to 20 male and female drivers to compete in identical Tatuus T421 – Abarth F4 Gen2 machinery. The standardised format places the emphasis on driver performance while providing competitors with experience in machinery comparable to other FIA-certified F4 championships around the world.
2026 Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship calendar
The championship will complete all six rounds between the beginning of October and the middle of December:
- 1 October — Pre-event test — Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- 2–3 October — Round 1 — Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- 7–8 October — Round 2 — Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- 31 October — Pre-event test — Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- 1–2 November — Round 3 — Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- 6–7 November — Round 4 — Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- 7 December — Pre-event test — Lusail International Circuit
- 8–9 December — Round 5 — Lusail International Circuit
- 13–14 December — Round 6 — Lusail International Circuit
Official Aramco F4 2026 season launch announcement
Championship continues growing after competitive 2025 season
The expanded calendar follows a 2025 campaign in which Kit Belofsky claimed the championship for Team PEAX. Adam Al Azhari finished runner-up with Team VALVOLINE, while Scott Lindblom completed the top three for Team REDBULL.
For 2026, the championship will again operate under the sporting regulations of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, with ALTAWKILAT Motorsport promoting and operating the series. Its role extends beyond developing drivers, with the organisation also targeting growth across engineering, mechanics, operations, sponsorship, media and other areas of Saudi Arabia’s motorsport industry.
The expanded season gives the series another opportunity to strengthen that platform. With 12 races, three dedicated test days and two Formula 1 venues forming the calendar, the third Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship will provide its largest competitive programme since the series began.
The campaign starts at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on 1 October with the opening pre-event test before the first two races of the season take place on 2–3 October.
