Everything you need to know about the 2026 Italian F4 Championship

Italian F4 enters 2026 with its biggest grid yet and its reputation as one of the strongest entry-level single-seater championships intact. As the longest-running FIA Formula 4 series, the championship has become a major proving ground for young drivers aiming to progress through the European ladder.

The series has already produced several future Formula 1 drivers, including champions Lance Stroll, Ollie Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Therefore, the 2026 campaign will once again attract major attention, especially with a record 47 drivers set to contest the opening round.

At the same time, the championship introduces two notable rule changes. The maximum driver age rises from 22 to 23, while all drivers must now complete a mandatory training and education programme organised by ACI and the championship promoter.

A look back on 2025

The 2025 season belonged to Kean Nakamura-Berta, who delivered a dominant title-winning campaign with PREMA Racing. The Williams Driver Academy member scored 342 points, nine wins, nine pole positions and 17 podiums, underlining his status as one of the standout F4 drivers of his generation.

Behind him, teammate Salim Hanna claimed the rookie championship and finished fourth overall. Both drivers have since moved into FREC with PREMA, where Nakamura-Berta has already taken a race victory.

PREMA also continued its dominance in the teams’ championship, securing a fourth consecutive title. However, US Racing remained its closest challenger, while R-ace GP strengthened its position as another serious contender.

With Nakamura-Berta, Hanna and several other leading drivers moving on, the 2026 field looks far more open. As a result, returning drivers such as Oleksandr Bondarev, Luka Sammalisto and Aleksander Ruta now have an opportunity to lead, while a large rookie class adds further unpredictability.

The 2026 Italian F4 calendar

Italian F4 keeps a seven-round calendar for 2026, but the championship now remains entirely in Italy after Barcelona drops off the schedule. Mugello appears twice, including as the season finale, while Misano also hosts two rounds.

Race calendar

• Round 1: Misano World Circuit (8–10 May)
• Round 2: Autodromo Vallelunga (22–24 May)
• Round 3: Autodromo Nazionale Monza (19–21 June)
• Round 4: Mugello Circuit (24–26 July)
• Round 5: Imola (4–6 September)
• Round 6: Misano World Circuit (18–20 September)
• Round 7: Mugello Circuit (30 October–1 November)

The calendar gives drivers a demanding mix of circuits. Monza offers experience on a current Formula 1 venue, while Mugello, Misano, Vallelunga and Imola test rhythm, precision and tyre management. Therefore, drivers must adapt quickly across very different circuit profiles.

Format and race structure

Italian F4 keeps its three-race weekend format, but the exact structure depends on the number of entries at each round.

Each weekend begins with:

• Two 40-minute free practice sessions on Friday
• One Qualifying structure
• Three races, each lasting 25 minutes plus one lap

However, drivers only receive 20 minutes of running during each practice session.

When the entry list stays below the circuit capacity, all drivers take part in one Qualifying session lasting between 20 and 30 minutes. The fastest lap sets the grid for Race 1, the second-fastest lap sets the grid for Race 2, and the third-fastest lap sets the grid for Race 3.

When the entry list exceeds the circuit capacity, organisers split drivers into two Qualifying groups. After Qualifying, drivers are ranked overall and then divided into three race groups:

• Group A: 1st, 4th, 7th and every third position after that
• Group B: 2nd, 5th, 8th and every third position after that
• Group C: 3rd, 6th, 9th and every third position after that

The race format then works as follows:

• Race 1: Groups B and C
• Race 2: Groups A and B
• Race 3: Groups A and C

At high-entry rounds, organisers may also run a final race for the top 36 drivers overall. The grid for that race comes from the points scored in the Qualifying races, while drivers without points are ordered by best finishing positions.

The 2026 Italian F4 points system explained

Italian F4 introduces a new points system for 2026. Points now go to the top 15 drivers in each race.

Race points

• 1st: 30 points
• 2nd: 26 points
• 3rd: 22 points
• 4th: 20 points
• 5th: 18 points
• 6th: 16 points
• 7th: 14 points
• 8th: 12 points
• 9th: 10 points
• 10th: 9 points
• 11th: 8 points
• 12th: 6 points
• 13th: 4 points
• 14th: 2 points
• 15th: 1 point

Importantly, the championship awards no bonus points for pole position or fastest lap. Therefore, race execution and consistency matter more than single-lap peaks.

Italian F4 also features four classifications:

• Drivers’ championship
• Teams’ championship
• Rookies’ championship
• Women’s championship

Every championship except the teams’ standings uses each driver’s best 16 race results. Meanwhile, the teams’ championship adds the points scored by each team’s two best drivers in the main standings.

Where to watch Italian F4 in 2026

Free practice and Qualifying are not broadcast, but ACI Sport provides live timing. Fans can watch races live on ACI Sport’s YouTube channel and ACI Sport’s Facebook page.

Teams and drivers set to feature in the 2026 Italian F4 Championship

Italian F4 enters 2026 with the largest entry list ever seen in a European Formula 4 championship. A total of 47 drivers are expected to compete at the opening round at Misano, which underlines the championship’s status as one of the most competitive junior categories in the world.

The grid combines returning race winners, karting champions, Formula Regional graduates, F1 Academy competitors and manufacturer-backed juniors from programmes linked to Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. At the same time, several new teams and rookie drivers add another layer of unpredictability.

Notably absent from the grid are Technorace, BVM Racing and Viola Formula Racing. However, Trident enters Italian F4 for the first time, while Alpha 54 Racing debuts and AKM Motorsport returns after sitting out the 2025 campaign.

PREMA Racing

PREMA Racing once again enters Italian F4 as the benchmark operation. The Italian powerhouse secured a fourth consecutive teams’ title in 2025 and now targets its 10th championship crown in the category. Its six-driver line-up combines proven race winners with highly rated rookies from major karting and junior programmes.

• Christian Costoya (#1) – The Spanish McLaren junior arrives with one of the strongest karting CVs on the grid. Last year, he won the FIA Karting European Championship in OK and also secured the WSK Euro Series title in the same category. Earlier this year, he impressed in UAE4 by finishing sixth overall with one win while ending the campaign second in the rookie standings. Therefore, Costoya enters Italian F4 as one of the leading rookie contenders and a potential title challenger immediately.
• Alp Aksoy (#10) – Aksoy makes the move into Italian F4 after winning the Formula Trophy championship. The Turkish driver adapted quickly to single-seaters following a long karting career and secured two wins and four podiums during his title-winning Formula Trophy campaign. He then continued his development in UAE4, where he finished eighth overall and third among rookies. Consequently, he arrives with more race mileage than many first-year drivers.
• Niccolò Maccagnani (#19) – The Ferrari Driver Academy member enters 2026 with significant momentum. After debuting in Italian F4 last year with BVM Racing, he competed in F4 SEA and dominated the closing stages of the season with three consecutive victories. He also finished second in Formula Trophy and fourth in UAE4, where he collected two wins and another podium. As a result, Maccagnani already looks like one of PREMA’s strongest weapons.
• Oleksandr Bondarev (#27) – Bondarev returns for a second full Italian F4 campaign after finishing 10th overall and third among rookies last season. The Ukrainian secured a race win at Imola and ended the year with a podium at Misano. During winter, he won the inaugural UAE4 title after an intense battle with Andy Consani. Therefore, Bondarev enters 2026 as one of the championship favourites.
• Kingsley Zheng (#69) – Zheng steps into Italian F4 after several years in karting competition. The Chinese driver gained his first extensive single-seater experience in UAE4, where he finished 19th overall and eighth among rookies. Although he remains relatively inexperienced, PREMA’s structure should accelerate his development throughout the season.
• David Cosma Cristofor (#98) – The Romanian driver begins his second full Italian F4 season after finishing 26th overall last year with three top-10 finishes. He also showed encouraging progress in Formula Trophy and UAE4, where he claimed two podiums and finished fifth overall. Consequently, Cristofor now aims to move from occasional points finishes into consistent top-10 contention.

US Racing

US Racing remains PREMA’s closest long-term challenger. The German squad finished runner-up in the teams’ championship again last season and previously won the drivers’ crown with Kacper Sztuka in 2023. Its 2026 line-up mixes experienced returnees with highly rated newcomers from GB4, British F4 and Formula Winter Series.

• Luka Sammalisto (#7) – Sammalisto enters his third Italian F4 campaign with considerable experience. The Finnish driver finished eighth overall last year after securing three podiums and 10 additional top-10 finishes. He now faces the challenge of converting consistency into victories if he wants to fight for the championship.
• Edu Robinson (#9) – Robinson returns for another season after gaining experience in Formula Regional categories during 2025. The British-Spanish driver competed in FR Europe and other regional championships, which should improve his technical understanding and racecraft. Therefore, he arrives as a more rounded driver than during his rookie Italian F4 season.
• Noah Killion (#13) – The Australian arrives as the reigning AU4 champion after winning the title during his first-ever single-seater campaign. He also raced in Formula Trophy and Formula Winter Series, steadily adapting to European circuits and conditions. As a result, Killion enters Italian F4 as one of the strongest rookie prospects.
• Oleksandr Savinkov (#17) – Savinkov returns for his third season after a difficult 2025 campaign that yielded only one championship point. However, his winter performances dramatically improved, as he won races and secured multiple podiums in Formula Winter Series. Consequently, he could emerge as one of the season’s surprise improvers.
• Ludovico Busso (#29) – Busso continues into his second Italian F4 season after debuting with Viola Formula Racing. He also impressed in Formula Winter Series by finishing 11th overall and claiming a podium. With US Racing’s stronger infrastructure behind him, Busso now aims to establish himself as a regular points scorer.
• Ary Bansal (#46) – Bansal joins the grid after winning the 2025 GB4 title with four victories and 11 podiums. The Indian driver also impressed internationally by finishing fifth in the FIA F4 World Cup at Macau and third in Formula Winter Series. Therefore, he arrives with arguably one of the strongest resumes among the newcomers.
• Arjen Kräling (#62) – Kräling enters after contesting part of the British F4 season and selected E4 rounds. Earlier this year, he won a Formula Winter Series race at Valencia and finished eighth overall. Despite missing testing after a wrist injury, the German remains one of the more highly rated rookies.

R-ace GP

R-ace GP continues to strengthen its Italian F4 programme after finishing third in the teams’ standings last season. The French outfit fields a competitive line-up featuring Mercedes juniors, F1 Academy talent and several strong UAE4 performers.

• Andy Consani (#30) – Consani enters 2026 after finishing runner-up in UAE4. The French Mercedes junior collected three wins and six additional podiums during the campaign, narrowly missing the title to Bondarev. He also gained experience in E4 and French F4 last season. Therefore, he enters Italian F4 as one of the leading championship contenders.
• Tamás Gender (#33) – Gender begins his first full single-seater campaign after debuting in UAE4 earlier this year. Although his results were modest, he gained valuable experience in a competitive environment. Italian F4 will provide a much deeper challenge, so consistency and adaptation remain the priorities.
• Kenzo Craigie (#34) – Craigie arrives with elite karting credentials and major expectations. The British Mercedes junior won the Champions of the Future Euro Series in OK and previously secured major international karting titles in OK-Junior. He also impressed in UAE4 by finishing third overall with one win. Consequently, Craigie immediately becomes one of the most closely watched rookies on the grid.
• Payton Westcott (#35) – Westcott returns after finishing runner-up in the women’s championship last year. She also competed in E4, Formula Trophy, UAE4 and F1 Academy, where she currently sits fourth after a podium in Shanghai. That broad racing schedule gives her strong race sharpness ahead of another demanding Italian F4 season.
• Emily Cotty (#42) – Cotty enters 2026 as the reigning women’s champion. The British-New Zealand driver also gained experience in E4, UAE4 and the FIA F4 World Cup. After securing a podium in UAE4 earlier this year, she now aims to move further up the overall Italian F4 standings while defending her women’s crown.

Van Amersfoort Racing

Van Amersfoort Racing previously guided Ollie Bearman to the 2021 Italian F4 title and continues to field strong young talent. The Dutch squad enters 2026 with a compact but highly competitive three-driver line-up.

• Aleksander Ruta (#3) – Ruta returns after finishing eighth among rookies last season with six overall top-10 finishes. The Polish driver also impressed in Formula Winter Series by winning at Valencia and securing sixth overall despite missing the final round due to injury. Therefore, he could emerge as a dark horse in the championship fight.
• Pedro Lima (#53) – Lima arrives from Brazilian F4, where he won two races and secured nine additional podiums en route to third in the standings. He then gained valuable European mileage in Formula Winter Series. Consequently, the Brazilian enters Italian F4 with strong expectations.
• Thomas Bearman (#87) – Bearman follows his brother Ollie’s path into Italian F4 with Van Amersfoort Racing. The British driver won in British F4 last season and finished runner-up in Formula Winter Series earlier this year with eight podiums. Therefore, he enters the championship as one of the strongest title contenders among the rookies.

Jenzer Motorsport

Jenzer Motorsport remains one of the most experienced teams in Italian F4 after competing since the inaugural 2014 season. The Swiss outfit enters five cars for 2026 and combines experienced drivers with developing rookies.

• Levi Arn (#21) – Arn steps up after an encouraging Formula Winter Series campaign, where he secured six top-10 finishes and a podium. The Swiss rookie adapted quickly to single-seaters, which suggests strong potential heading into Italian F4.
• Elia Weiss (#22) – Weiss moves across from Cram Motorsport after a rookie campaign that included seven rookie-class top-10 finishes. He also gained experience in UAE4 and currently fights near the front in F4 CEZ, where he already has a victory. Additionally, his Formula E rookie test appearances with Porsche make him one of the more technically experienced drivers on the grid.
• Nicolás Cortés (#24) – Cortés returns after limited Italian F4 appearances last year. However, the Mexican driver impressed more strongly in F4 CEZ by finishing fourth overall with four podiums. As a result, he enters 2026 aiming to establish himself as a regular midfield contender.
• Georgiy Zasov (#25) – Zasov arrives from karting and already has experience from Formula Winter Series and F4 CEZ. The Swiss driver currently sits inside the top five in the Central European championship, which gives him valuable confidence before tackling Italian F4.
• Bader Al Sulaiti (#26) – The Qatari driver returns for his second Italian F4 season after finishing ninth among rookies last year. He also secured a race victory in UAE4 earlier this year, demonstrating clear progress. Therefore, he now targets more regular points finishes.

PHM Racing

PHM Racing continues its rebuilding process after slipping to sixth in last year’s teams’ standings. The German squad brings together karting graduates, Formula Winter Series drivers and current F1 Academy points leader Emma Felbermayr.

• Oscar Repetto (#6) – Repetto begins his first full Italian F4 season after racing in the 2025 finale at Misano. He also gained mileage in E4 and Formula Winter Series, where he scored several top-10 finishes. Consequently, he now has enough experience to target consistent improvement.
• Iacopo Martinese (#28) – Martinese enters after a promising UAE4 campaign that included a podium and multiple top-10 finishes. Combined with strong karting credentials, those performances suggest he could quickly adapt to European F4 competition.
• Roland Kuklane (#47) – Kuklane steps into cars following extensive karting experience at WSK and FIA level. The Estonian rookie has limited single-seater mileage compared to some rivals, so development and consistency will remain key objectives early in the season.
• Emma Felbermayr (#60) – Felbermayr combines her Italian F4 campaign with F1 Academy, where she currently leads the standings. The Austrian already has experience in Spanish F4 and UAE4, while her race victory in F1 Academy last year demonstrated her ability under pressure. Therefore, she immediately becomes one of the leading women’s championship contenders.
• Alexander Chartier (#81) – Chartier enters after appearances in Formula Winter Series and Spanish F4. The Canadian still lacks extensive experience, but his recent mileage should help him adapt more comfortably to Italian F4’s highly competitive environment.

Maffi Racing

Maffi Racing continues to progress steadily after recording its best-ever teams’ championship finish in 2025. The Swiss-based team returns with a smaller but experienced line-up.

• Igor Polak (#83) – Polak joins after selected appearances in F4 CEZ last season. The Polish driver continues to race in Central Europe alongside his Italian F4 campaign, which should provide useful mileage during his rookie year.
• David Walther (#86) – Walther returns after finishing 11th in the rookie standings last season. The Danish driver also enjoyed stronger results in F4 CEZ, where he secured a race win and multiple podiums. Consequently, he now aims to become Maffi’s consistent points scorer.

Real Racing

Romanian outfit Real Racing continues its gradual development after scoring its first points in 2025.

• Knud Nielsen (#41) – Nielsen arrives directly from karting with strong Rotax results. The Danish rookie also began competing in F4 CEZ this year and already has multiple top-10 finishes. Therefore, Italian F4 will act as the next major step in his development.

Cram Motorsport

Cram Motorsport remains one of Italian F4’s longest-serving teams, although recent seasons have proven difficult. The Italian squad enters four drivers from four different continents for 2026.

• Rafaela Ferreira (#38) – Ferreira arrives with extensive F4 experience after finishing fourth in Brazilian F4 with three wins and 10 podiums. She also competes in F1 Academy with Racing Bulls backing and currently sits fifth in the standings. As one of the grid’s most experienced drivers, she should lead Cram’s challenge.
• Eshan Naraayanan (#39) – The Indian driver brings experience from India’s MRF National Car Racing Championship and national karting competitions. Italian F4 will represent his first major European campaign, making adaptation a key challenge.
• Andre Rodriguez (#40) – Rodriguez returns after a difficult rookie campaign. However, he gained substantial mileage in Formula Winter Series and Eurocup-3, which should improve his racecraft and consistency heading into 2026.
• Roman Kamyab (#63) – Kamyab arrives from karting after strong performances in FIA OK competition. The British rookie also raced in Formula Winter Series earlier this year, giving him useful preparation before his Italian F4 debut.

PA Racing by AS Motorsport

AS Motorsport continues in Italian F4 through the PA Racing by AS Motorsport banner with a part-time programme.

• Ginevra Panzeri (#64) – Panzeri combines Italian F4 with campaigns in E4, French F4 and F4 CEZ. The Italian driver has steadily expanded her experience across multiple championships and now aims to continue progressing through selective Italian F4 appearances.

Alpha 54 Racing

Alpha 54 Racing makes its competitive debut in Italian F4 with an all-Argentinian line-up.

• Thiago Palotini (#11) – Palotini graduates from karting after winning the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy South America in Junior Max. Italian F4 represents his first major European single-seater campaign, so development remains the primary goal.
• Federico Díaz (#54) – Díaz arrives with more car-racing experience after competing in Brazilian F4 and Fórmula Nacional Argentina. He already has top-10 finishes and podium experience, which should help stabilise Alpha 54’s first season.

Trident

Trident enters Italian F4 for the first time after major success in Formula 3 and other feeder categories. The team’s arrival immediately adds another high-profile name to the grid.

• Bernardo Bernoldi (#16) – Bernoldi switched from PREMA to Trident before his UAE4 campaign. The Brazilian made his single-seater debut in Formula Trophy and continued building experience in UAE4. As the son of former Formula 1 driver Enrique Bernoldi, he also arrives with significant attention.
• Florentin Hattemer (#25) – Hattemer already has limited Italian F4 experience after racing at Misano last year. He also competed in UAE4 and F4 CEZ, steadily building experience before his first full campaign.
• Augustus Toniolo (#51) – Toniolo steps directly from karting into one of Europe’s toughest F4 championships. The Brazilian rookie remains relatively inexperienced, so 2026 will primarily focus on development.
• Dominik Šimek (#67) – Šimek competes with Trident across multiple championships, including E4 and UAE4. The Czech driver finished sixth among rookies in UAE4, which gives him encouraging momentum.
• Lyuboslav Ruykov (#73) – Ruykov immediately impressed in F4 CEZ by securing rookie victories and top-five overall finishes on debut. Consequently, the Bulgarian enters Italian F4 as one of the more intriguing new drivers.

AKM Motorsport

AKM Motorsport returns to Italian F4 after missing the 2025 season. The team, linked to the Antonelli family, focuses on developing young drivers through karting and junior formulae.

• Evan Michelini (#44) – Michelini made his single-seater debut in E4 last season and now steps into a full Italian F4 campaign. The Italian-born Costa Rican driver will focus on building experience against a much deeper field.
• Vittorio Orsini (#88) – Orsini already gained Formula Winter Series experience with AKM earlier this year and secured a rookie-class win at Estoril. Therefore, he enters Italian F4 with useful confidence and familiarity with European circuits.
• Fabrício Fogaça (#99) – Fogaça recently debuted in Brazilian F4 and immediately scored points in his first race. The Brazilian rookie now faces a much steeper challenge in Italian F4 but has already shown promising adaptability.

Record grid, rising stars and a wide-open title fight

Italian F4 enters 2026 with exceptional depth, a record-breaking grid and one of the strongest rookie classes in recent years. With 47 drivers expected at the opening round, every session will matter, from qualifying group placement to race execution.

Prema Racing remains the benchmark, but US Racing, R-ace GP, Van Amersfoort Racing, Trident and several returning teams all bring credible challengers. Meanwhile, the arrival of elite karting graduates, F1 Academy contenders and proven F4 race winners creates an unpredictable title picture.

Ultimately, the 2026 season reinforces Italian F4’s status as one of the world’s most important entry-level championships. It offers young drivers a demanding first step in Europe and gives fans another season packed with emerging talent, close racing and future stars.