The Formula 4 Central European Zone (F4 CEZ) Championship returns for its fourth FIA-certified season with unprecedented momentum. After fluctuating grid sizes in recent years, the 2026 campaign marks a turning point, as more than 40 cars commit to the full season.
This surge in entries transforms F4 CEZ into one of the largest junior single-seater championships globally. Consequently, the series now offers both heightened competition and increased visibility for emerging talent.
Looking back at 2025
The 2025 season delivered a compelling title battle between team-mates at Jenzer Motorsport. Max Karhan mounted a remarkable comeback with 13 consecutive podiums, yet Gino Trappa ultimately secured the championship by nine points.
Both drivers now move in different directions. Trappa steps up to Eurocup-3, continuing the trend of champions progressing quickly, while Karhan returns determined to finally claim the crown after two near-misses.
Technical stability across the grid
F4 CEZ retains the proven Tatuus T-421 chassis paired with Pirelli tyres. This configuration aligns the championship with other leading European F4 series, ensuring consistency in driver development. As a result, performance gaps remain minimal, placing greater emphasis on driver ability, racecraft and team execution.
A compact but varied calendar for 2026 F4 CEZ
The 2026 calendar features six rounds across Central Europe, blending technical circuits with high-speed venues. Notably, the schedule includes two Formula 1 circuits for the first time since 2023. The Hungaroring returns to the championship and hosts the season finale, replacing a second Red Bull Ring event.
2026 Calendar:
- Round 1: Red Bull Ring (11–12 April)
- Round 2: Salzburgring (30–31 May)
- Round 3: Slovakia Ring (6–7 June)
- Round 4: Autodrom Most (1–2 August)
- Round 5: Automotodrom Brno (12–13 September)
- Round 6: Hungaroring (24–25 October)
Each circuit presents distinct challenges, demanding adaptability from drivers throughout the season.
A unique format for a record grid
Due to the high number of entries, organisers have introduced a revised race weekend structure. Qualifying now splits into two groups, ensuring all drivers receive sufficient track time.
Drivers are then divided into three race groups:
- Group A: 1st, 4th, 7th, etc.
- Group B: 2nd, 5th, 8th, etc.
- Group C: 3rd, 6th, 9th, etc.
The first three races feature rotating group combinations. Subsequently, only the top 32 drivers progress to the final race of the weekend.
This system rewards consistency while maintaining competitive balance across a large field.
Revised points system
F4 CEZ adopts the MotoGP-style points system for 2026. The top 15 drivers score points, with 25 awarded for victory and one point for 15th place.
Importantly, no bonus points are available for pole position or fastest lap. Therefore, race results alone determine championship standings, placing a premium on finishing positions.
How to watch the 2026 F4 CEZ Championship?
Fans can follow all races live via the championship’s official YouTube channel, complete with English commentary. While practice and qualifying sessions remain unbroadcast, race coverage ensures global accessibility.
Teams and drivers to feature in the 2026 F4 CEZ Championship
The 2026 grid features 21 teams and 44 cars, creating one of the most diverse fields in junior formula racing. While some outfits expand, others refine their programmes, contributing to a dynamic competitive landscape.
Jenzer Motorsport
Jenzer Motorsport enter 2026 as the benchmark of Formula 4 Central European Zone Championship, having swept every teams’ and drivers’ title since the championship’s inception. Their six-car line-up once again blends proven front-runners with highly rated rookies, making them the clear reference point for the rest of the field.
Teodor Borenstein – The Czech returns for a third campaign with steadily improving form. After finishing 11th in 2025 and scoring a best result of fourth at Brno, he has already taken an F4 podium in the winter. A consistent points scorer, he now aims to break into the top five regularly.
Ella Häkkinen (R) – Daughter of Mika Häkkinen, she steps up from karting as part of the McLaren junior programme. Still early in her single-seater journey, her development curve will be closely watched.
Elia Weiss – Already notable as the youngest driver to test a Formula E car, Weiss brings experience from Italian F4 and UAE4. His raw pace is evident, and he could emerge as a surprise podium contender.
Georgiy Zasov (R) – A karting graduate with solid international results, Zasov is in the early stages of adapting to F4 machinery. Expect gradual progress across the season.
Markas Šilkūnas (R) – A recent karting champion, Šilkūnas arrives with strong credentials. His challenge will be translating that success into immediate single-seater pace.
Max Karhan – Runner-up in 2025 after a remarkable late-season surge, Karhan enters as the clear title favourite and will be expected to lead Jenzer’s charge.
Maffi Racing
Maffi Racing have quickly established themselves as Jenzer’s closest challengers, finishing runner-up in the teams’ standings twice. Their 2026 line-up is smaller but more focused, with a mix of experience and developing talent targeting a breakthrough title.
David Walther – A proven race winner who was third in the standings before leaving mid-season in 2025. With a full campaign, he has the tools to mount a serious championship challenge.
Nikolaj Dyrved – Returns after a modest rookie year. While points were scarce in 2025, improved experience could see him become a consistent midfield scorer.
Igor Polak – Steps into his first full season after late-2025 appearances. Having benefited from Maffi’s development programme, he is expected to take a step forward.
Cezary Bień (R) – A sim racing graduate transitioning to real-world competition. Though too young to race initially, his long-term potential is notable.
Renauer Motorsport
Renauer Motorsport continue their steady rise after a promising debut season. Despite lacking a win in 2025, consistent podium finishes showed their competitiveness, and a refined two-car effort could yield stronger results.
- Tomas Rudokas – Returns after an injury-interrupted winter campaign. With prior touring car experience, he brings valuable racecraft and could challenge for points regularly.
- Andreas Lo Bue – One of the standout rookies of 2025, finishing 10th overall. With a year of experience, he is well-placed to fight for top-five finishes.
Mathilda Racing
Mathilda Racing expand their presence after a solid debut season. While not a full-time multi-car operation yet, their selective entries still carry competitive potential.
- Mathilda Paatz – A proven podium finisher in F4 CEZ, balancing this campaign with F1 Academy. When present, she is a genuine top-five contender.
- Jade Jacquet – Another F1 Academy driver gaining experience. After a quiet rookie year in French F4, she aims to move closer to the points.
Zengő Motorsport
Zengő Motorsport remain a single-car operation but bring strong touring car pedigree. Their focus is on steady progression rather than immediate results.
- Benett Gáspár – Finished ninth in 2025 and came close to podiums. With experience on his side, he could break into the top five more consistently.
Real Racing
Real Racing step up to a full-time programme after part-time entries. Their line-up leans heavily on karting success transitioning into single-seaters.
- Samuil Ivanov – A national karting champion with testing experience in multiple cars. His adaptation speed will define his season.
- Knud Nielsen (R) – A strong karting pedigree highlighted by international podiums. He enters as one of the more promising rookies.
Janík Motorsport
Janík Motorsport field an all-Czech line-up for 2026, continuing their philosophy of developing national talent while remaining a consistent midfield presence in the Formula 4 Central European Zone Championship. The team has steadily built a reputation for producing disciplined, race-focused drivers who improve over the course of a season.
- David Gorčica – Now the most experienced driver in the squad, Gorčica enters his second full season after a solid rookie campaign. Regular points finishes defined his 2025 year, where he showed strong consistency in race pace and clean racecraft. While not yet a podium contender, he has developed into a dependable midfield benchmark for the team, and his next step will be converting occasional top-seven finishes into more frequent top-five results.
- Tobiáš Paško (R) – Stepping up from karting, Paško arrives with a solid but unspectacular junior record across European Rotax competition. His focus in the opening half of the season will be adaptation: learning tyre management, race starts, and the physical demands of F4 machinery. Progress is expected to be gradual rather than immediate, but his karting background gives him a stable foundation to build on.
- Albert Písařík (R) – The least experienced driver on the grid, Písařík enters motorsport directly at F4 level after limited testing. His development curve is expected to be steep, particularly in wheel-to-wheel racing and qualifying performance. Results will likely come later in the season, but his learning trajectory will be one of Janík’s key long-term development projects.
AS Motorsport
AS Motorsport continue their role as a resilient midfield outfit within F4 CEZ, combining experience in Italian F4 with a growing presence in Central Europe. The team has developed a reputation for maximising limited resources and extracting occasional strong results through consistency and race management.
- Michalina Sabaj – One of the more experienced drivers in the field, Sabaj returns after a difficult 2025 season that fell short of her earlier form. In 2024 she showed strong points-scoring ability, and the key storyline for her 2026 campaign is whether she can rediscover that level of confidence and race pace. If she does, she has the experience to re-establish herself as a regular top-ten contender.
PA Racing by AS Motorsport
PA Racing enter F4 CEZ for the first time through their partnership with AS Motorsport, marking a significant step from rallying into single-seater circuit racing. Their involvement reflects a growing trend of crossover teams expanding into formula categories.
- Ginevra Panzeri – Still in the early stages of her formula career, Panzeri has already shown flashes of potential in winter competition, including her first points finish in chaotic conditions. Her focus this season will be consistency and race completion rate, with the aim of gradually moving into regular midfield contention. Her dual programme in other F4 series adds both experience and workload management challenges.
JMT Engineering
JMT Engineering expand into a three-car line-up for 2026, combining established internal development drivers with one of the most unusual entries in the entire field. The team continues to blend experience, youth development, and long-term talent projects.
- František Němec – Now entering his second full season, Němec has established himself as a steady midfield runner. While not a frequent points scorer at the front of the field, his consistency and racecraft make him a valuable reference driver within the team.
- Stefan Treneski – Graduating from the F4 CEZ academy pathway, Treneski begins his first full campaign. His progression has been steady rather than rapid, and his main goal will be to close the gap to midfield runners while improving qualifying performance.
- Roman Roubíček – The most experienced driver on the grid by a wide margin, Roubíček brings decades of racing background into modern F4 machinery. At 60 years old, he is a unique presence in the field, and while he is not expected to fight for points regularly, his experience provides valuable technical and developmental feedback for the team.
Cram Motorsport
Cram Motorsport arrive in F4 CEZ with one of the most varied and international line-ups on the grid. With experience across multiple European F4 championships, they are often considered a “wildcard” team capable of strong weekend performances.
- Ava Dobson – Balancing F4 CEZ with F1 Academy, Dobson brings experience from GB4 and Saudi F4. Her pace is established at midfield level, and she has already shown she can fight for podiums in the right conditions.
- Alexandre Louza (R) – A promising South American graduate stepping into European competition. His junior formula results suggest strong adaptability, but consistency across different circuits will be key to progress.
- Simon Rechenmacher (R) – Coming directly from high-level karting, Rechenmacher is still learning single-seater fundamentals such as tyre management and race strategy. His raw speed is present, but experience will define his season.
- Lubo Ruykov (R) – A temporary entry with longer-term Italian F4 ambitions, Ruykov uses this programme primarily for experience accumulation rather than outright results.
Dutt Motorsport
Dutt Motorsport return to formula racing after nearly a decade away, marking a significant revival project for the team. Their focus is firmly on developing young talent rather than chasing immediate results.
- Noah Nölken (R) – A karting graduate making his single-seater debut following injury recovery. His initial objective is simply adaptation to F4 machinery, with race pace expected to improve gradually throughout the year.
Harp Racing
Harp Racing make their first appearance in FIA-certified F4 competition, stepping up from older machinery categories. Their entry represents a major organisational shift toward modern junior formula racing.
- Piotr Orcholski (R) – A late-season entrant with a background in rallying and hillclimbs. His transition to circuit racing is still in its early stages, meaning learning racecraft and consistency will be the priority.
- Filippo Fiorentino – More experienced than his teammate, Fiorentino brings prior exposure to multiple F4-level championships. His role will likely be to provide reference performance and help develop the team’s competitiveness.
Drivex
Drivex expand their reach beyond Spain for the first time, entering F4 CEZ with a strong technical reputation and history of producing competitive drivers across Europe. Their involvement adds significant depth to the grid.
- Jorge Bruno – A race winner in Argentina, Bruno enters European competition with proven speed but limited experience on European circuits. His ability to adapt quickly will determine whether he can challenge for top-ten finishes.
- Leo Nilsson (R) – A pure karting graduate beginning his single-seater career. While inexperienced in cars, his karting background provides strong race instincts, and his development will be one of Drivex’s key long-term projects.
HunOK Motorsport
HunOK Motorsport arrive as one of the most intriguing new entries on the grid, built entirely around a single-driver development project. Unlike most teams, their focus is not on depth but on creating a structured pathway for their driver to grow through testing and race experience.
- Patrik Lipovics (R) – The centrepiece of the project. After narrowly missing out on the Rotax Max Challenge Hungary title, Lipovics steps into F4 following extensive private testing across Central Europe. His preparation suggests a solid baseline, but racecraft and consistency will be key areas of growth.
Scuderia Buell
Scuderia Buell continue their steady expansion into European single-seaters. Having competed across multiple junior categories in recent years, their move into F4 CEZ represents a natural progression with a focus on nurturing South American talent.
- Agustín Sepúlveda (R) – A highly decorated karting driver in South America, Sepúlveda already showed promise by winning on his car racing debut in Formula FARA. His raw speed is evident, and if he adapts quickly to European circuits, he could become one of the standout rookies.
SG Motors
SG Motors return to competitive action after a period focused on testing and preparation. Their re-entry into racing comes with a renewed structure and a dual-entry approach alongside their partner operation.
Mio Olert (R) – A consistent performer in international karting, Olert enters F4 with a solid technical foundation. His early tests suggest good adaptability, and he could emerge as a quiet points contender as the season progresses.
ABA Racing by SG Motors
ABA Racing step into single-seaters through their collaboration with SG Motors, marking a significant transition from karting to formula racing.
- Aleksandar Bogunović – One of the few drivers in this programme with prior F4 experience, albeit limited. His knowledge of car behaviour should give him an early advantage over rookies, particularly in qualifying and race starts.
Sladecka Motorsport
Sladecka Motorsport continue their gradual build into F4 competition after a handful of appearances in lower-profile events. Their 2026 campaign represents their first sustained effort in a major championship.
- Miroslav Kepák (R) – Transitioning from domestic karting, Kepák is still in the early stages of his single-seater career. His results will likely improve steadily as he gains experience on unfamiliar circuits.
STEP Motorsport
STEP Motorsport arrive with one of the strongest domestic records of any newcomer, having dominated Danish F4 in recent years. Their move to F4 CEZ is a major step up, but their structured approach and winning culture suggest they could adapt quickly.
- Erik Poulsen (R) – Already has limited F4 experience and represents a long-term prospect. His early outings suggest steady progression rather than immediate results.
- Viktor Snebjørn Poulsen – A proven race winner in Nordic 4, bringing valuable racecraft. If he adapts quickly, he could challenge for points.
- Alexia Danielsson – A race winner with growing experience across multiple categories. Backed by a major development initiative, she will aim for consistent midfield results and occasional standout performances.
Technorace
Technorace continue rebuilding after their return to F4 racing. With a year of Italian F4 experience behind them, the focus now shifts toward converting testing mileage into competitive race results.
- Francesco Pio Coppola – The team’s most experienced driver, Coppola showed flashes of pace in 2025 but narrowly missed out on points. Greater consistency will be key to moving forward.
- Antonio Errigo (R) – Despite limited race starts, Errigo has accumulated extensive testing experience. The challenge now is translating that preparation into race-day performance under pressure.
A 2026 F4 CEZ season defined by scale
The 2026 F4 CEZ season represents a milestone for the championship. With record-breaking entries, a revised format and a highly competitive grid, it enters a new phase of growth.
Ultimately, the combination of experienced contenders and a vast rookie class ensures unpredictability. As a result, consistency, adaptability and racecraft will prove decisive in determining this year’s champion.
