With the first round of 2026 Czech Formula 4 Championship behind us, it’s the perfect time to not only take a closer look at the female talent competing in the series this year, but to also see how they all got on at the opening round of the season at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Let’s take a closer look.

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Alexia Danielsson

The Swedish driver made her single-seaters debut in 2024 in the Nordic 4 Series. She is also part of the More Than Equal project and secured her first win in Nordic 4. The 17-year-old from Uppsala also competed in Nordic 4 last year, her second full campaign in the series with a best result of P1 in the second race at Karlskoga and finished ninth overall in the standings.

In 2026, she has joined the STEP Motorsport team as she enters the Czech Formula 4 Championship. At the opening round at the Red Bull Ring last weekend, she finished in P17, P13 and P15 respectively across the three races.

Ava Dobson

While F1 Academy will be the 17-year-old American’s main focus this year, Dobson will also be competing in Czech Formula 4 too. She did however miss the first round at the Red Bull Ring last weekend.

In 2025, Ava competed full-time in both GB4 and Saudi Arabian F4, finishing 19th and 11th overall in each Championship respectively. She secured one podium in the former at Donington Park and had a best result of P6 on multiple occasions in the latter. Back in F1 Academy this year, she scored one point in the second race at Shanghai which opened up the 2026 season.

Ginevra Panzeri

Another driver who isn’t a newcomer to single seater racing is Ginevra Panzeri. The Italian driver has raced previously in the Formula Winter Series where she competed for six races at the tail end of the 2025 season before returning full time in 2026. Ginevra finished in an impressive P9 on her debut in Estoril before finishing the season in P29 overall with a next highest finish of P18 at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.

Prior to last weekend’s opening round in Austria, Ginevra also competed in the French Formula 4 season opener where she suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury which prevented her from competing in the majority of the races held that weekend. She was able to compete at the Red Bull Ring though where she finished in P11 and P12 in the first two races she contested before DNFing in the third.

Mathilda Paatz

A more experienced hand at single seater racing, the 17-year-old German made herself known to many for the first time when she made her F1 Academy debut in 2025 when she competed as the Wild Card entry in Montreal.

Paatz has also competed French F4 in 2024 and achieved two wins in the 2025 E4 Championship – Trophy Woman and a podium finish in the F4 Central European Zone Championship, going on to finish eighth in the standings overall.

This year, she returns to F1 Academy full time with the backing of Aston Martin. She also competed in Czech F4 last year, finishing once on the podium and coming seventh in the overall standings. Earlier this year, Paatz took part in three rounds of the Formula Winter Series, scoring a podium at Estoril with a third place and finishing 18th overall.

At the opening round of the 2026 Czech Formula 4 Championship, Paatz finished as the best of all the female drivers across the weekend, with a P12, P7 and a P9 result.

Jade Jaquet

The French driver made her F4 debut last year in French Formula 4, finished 24th in the standings with her best finish being 11th at Le Mans. This year, she too is competing in F1 Academy, supported by the Williams F1 Team. as the series’ Williams-supported driver. In the season opener at Shanghai, she finished 13th in the first race before DNFing in race two after contact with Kostermann.

Jade Also raced in French Formula 4’s season opener recently but DNFs plagued her again for two of the three races. In Austria, she faired better as she finished all three races that she contested, in P22, P12, P25 respectively,

Ella Hakkinen

The Finnish driver won at the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy in Cremona and has achieved further wins and podium finishes across Europe too. She is also one of nine karting drivers supported by the F1 Academy - Discover Your Drive in the Champions of the Future Academy Programme and is part of the McLaren family as a junior driver for the Papaya outfit with an eye on joining the F1A grid in 2027.

Last weekend in Austria, Ella finished consistently in the top end of the top twenty, in P8, P11, P12.

Michalina Sabaj

Michelina Sabaj has been a part of the AS Motorsport’s F4 CEZ program since 2024. The 21-year-old Polish driver finished fifth place overall in 2024 with 84 points. Last year was a lot tougher though as she was only able to score two points, finishing 15th overall. Michalina also took part in the F1 Academy rookie test at Navarra, finishing 13th and 15th in the morning and afternoon sessions.

Returning to Czech Formula 4 this year, Sabaj had a clean weekend as she finished in P13, P19 and P23. Solid seat time and keeping out of trouble is key to building a strong foundation from which to build on what Michalina will want to be a bounce back year after 2025. This is a good starting point from which to do that.

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Czech Formula 4 returns May 29th at the Salburgring in Plainfield, Austria.

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Czech Formula 4 - An Overview & History

First launched in 2022, Czech Formula 4 enters its fourth season in 2026. Held in Central and Eastern Europe, the FIA certified series focuses on showcasing the talent from that particular region of Europe while providing the opportunity for drivers to both gain and develop their own single seater experience. Zénó Kovács won that first season in 2022 with familiar names such as Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi, Joanne Ciconte and Nicole Havrda having competed in the series since then.

In 2026, there are expected to be a whopping eighteen teams on the grid with forty-five drivers spread out amongst them as they battle it out for the top honour of Czech Formula 4 Champion.

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The Format

Three races will be held per weekend this year in Czech Formula 4. Each weekend includes a 50-minute test session which is then followed by a 30-minute official practice session.

Qualifying lasts 20 minutes and determines the starting order for the first of the three races. The starting grid for race two will be taken from the finishing results of race one, while for the third race, the starting order is formed by reversing the top four to eight finishers of race one. The exact number of drivers to be reversed is determined by a lottery draw held after that first race. Each of the three races is the same in length - 25 minutes.

The points distribution mirrors that of F1, with the winner receiving 25 points, second place 18 points, third 15 and so on.

The Car

Much like the other regional Formula 4 Championships across Europe, such as Spanish and Italian F4, the Czech F4 series will continue to use the Tatuus F4-T421. It will also use the Pirelli DMA tires. This lends more of a balance to the scales when it comes to showcasing the drivers’ abilities on track through their racecraft, rather than seeing teams in a development battle with one another over the course of a season.

The 2026 Czech Formula 4 Calendar

The 2026 Czech Formula 4 calendar will be made up of six rounds across three countries in Europe and will run from the beginning of April until the end of October. Check it out in full below.

Round 1: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg - April 10th - 12th.

Round 2: Salburgring, Plainfield - May 29th - 31st.

Round 3: Automotodróm Slovakia Ring, Orechová Potôň - 5th June - 7th.

Round 4: Autodrom Most, Most - July 31st - August 2nd.

Round 5: Brno Circuit, Brno - September 11th - 13th.

Round 6: Hungaroring, Mogyoród - October 23rd - 25th

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Six Women Competing This Year

This year, six women will be competing in Czech Formula 4. Alexia Danielsson, Ava Dobson, Ginevra Panzeri, Mathilda Paatz, Jade Jaquet and Ella Hakkinen will all take to the grid and you can learn more about them in our next article which will give you a snapshot view of each driver and why they’re ones to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

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In our previous article, we provided you with everything you need to know ahead of the eagerly anticipated 2026 Spanish Formula 4 season. Now, let’s turn our attention to the three female drivers set to make their debuts in the series this year

Amongst the thirty-six drivers competing in the 2026 series, there lies three of the most promising up and coming young female talents in junior single-seater racing, who are paving the way for the next generation of female success stories in motorsport. They are: Luna Fluxà, Maria Neto and Zoe Florescu.

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Luna Fluxà - Campos Racing (#10)

You may have already come across the name Luna Fluxà. The Mallorcan-born driver is one of the most eagerly anticipated female drivers amongst all of the motorsport categories. Beginning her karting journey in 2017 and competing across Europe since 2019, she has ascended through Spanish and international categories at a rapid pace.

At just eleven years old, she was signed by the Mercedes Junior Team, showcasing huge potential from a young age. She has lived up to the expectations placed on her, making history by racing in the OK Karts category for PREMA in the 2024-2025 season and becoming only the fifth woman to win a senior international karting title. Consistently battling within the top ten across both the FIA World and European championships earned her selection for the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive programme, as well as entry into both Champions of the Future and the Champions of the Future Academy, where she ultimately clinched the title.

At fifteen years old, she is now making the step up into single-seaters, driving for Campos Racing in the 2026 Spanish F4 Championship and continuing to be supported by the Mercedes Junior Programme. Already having gained valuable experience in the Campos car competing in the 2026 Eurocup-4 Winter Series, it only took Luna two races to achieve her maiden podium in F4 machinery and single-seaters, securing P2 at Portimão on debut.

The Aragón finale confirmed Luna as one to watch ahead of the 2026 Spanish F4 season, securing a triple top-ten with P6, P9 and P8 across the three races.

Five top-ten finishes across nine races and consistent recovery drives through fields of over thirty drivers proved her ability to instantly adapt from karting to single-seaters. She has proven and continues to prove that she is one of the brightest emerging talents of her generation, and she’s only just getting started in her professional career. Debuting in Spanish F4 could prove to be a monumental step in her career, showcasing her talent on an international stage. The sky is the limit for Luna.

Maria Neto - TC Racing (#78)

Karting is all Maria Neto has ever known, having pursued karting from the age of four. The now fifteen year old is about to fulfil her childhood dream, making a first step towards Formula 1 by entering into the 2026 Spanish F4 Championship. She began her junior career by winning the Portuguese Cup, earning the title of national karting champion in different categories. She also then became the first Portuguese female driver to achieve international victories in Spanish and Italian championships.

From the very beginning she has stood out, getting noticed by FIA promoted programmes such as FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars, which she went on to win in 2021. This resulted in her receiving support and backing from the Ferrari Driver Academy (2021-2025) as she progressed through the international karting structures. Adding to her list of accolades, she was named best female driver in the FIA Karting World Ranking, increasing her following and confirming her as one to watch.

Like Luna, Maria also recently made her debut in F4 and single-seaters in the 2026 Spanish Winter Series, in which she gained valuable experience and mileage in the car. It was a learning curve for the young Portuguese driver, preparing her for what’s to come in the main F4 series. After a tricky first round at Portimão, she showcased her true pace at the Circuito de Jarama, finishing P11 in Sunday’s final race to produce a personal best, narrowly missing out on the top ten.

Maria’s arrival at TC Racing marks a historic milestone, becoming the first ever female driver to represent the team. Demonstrating her adaptability to the F4 machinery in the short Winter Series, Maria will hope that she can consistently fight for the top ten positions. Alongside this, she will also be aiming to outperform Luna Fluxà and Zoe Florescu throughout the season to earn the title of best female driver. Maria is certainly deserving of this if she can push to her limits.

Zoe Florescu - Tecnicar (#18)

The seventeen year old Zoe Florescu will be hopeful that she can outperform both Luna and Maria, having accrued two years of extra racing experience. The American-Romanian driver has risen through the ranks of international karting, competing in three seasons in FIA European and World Championship events. Like Maria, she has also won the prestigious FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars title, also earning her support and backing from the Ferrari Driver Academy. Following this, she joined the Tony Kart Racing Team programme, enabling her to progress through the highest levels of international karting.

Competing in OK Karts in 2023, Zoe excelled and became the youngest and fastest female in the qualifying standings within a lineup of over one hundred drivers. The following year, she advanced into the elite KZ2 shifter category, securing podium finishes in the ACI Italian Karting Championship with Birel ART. She was then invited to participate in the F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra with Campos in September 2025. Finishing 8th overall, she gained her first taste of single-seater racing, competing against some admirable female drivers. In January 2026, she was selected as one of the new drivers for the More Than Equal driver development programme, aimed at identifying and developing the first female Formula 1 World Champion.

Over the winter, Zoe juggled both the 2026 Pirelli Winter Series with Campos, and the 2026 Spanish Winter Series with Tecnicar. Delivering a remarkable first F4 weekend at Portimão in the Pirelli Winter Series, she claimed two Female Trophy victories, whilst consistently fighting inside the top-twenty.

In the Spanish Winter Series, Zoe remained in the spotlight by showcasing encouraging race pace and the ability to produce impressive recovery drives, making up for her struggles in qualifying.

Her biggest challenge lies ahead in Spanish F4 with Tecnicar; an opportunity to make a name for herself in single-seaters and prove that she can be future World Champion, paving the way for female drivers in Formula 1. Her focus will be on consistency and maximising performance, particularly in qualifying, which will allow her to reach her full potential.

The Countdown to 2026 Spanish F4 is On

After the conclusion of the Spanish Winter Series, all three drivers leave with valuable lessons learned and momentum to carry into the beginning of their debut seasons in Spanish F4. Luna Fluxà leads the female line up in the best form, securing twenty-seven points and P11 over the three winter rounds.

The 2026 Spanish F4 season kicks off in Valencia (10-12 April). Could we see one of these women outperform the male-dominated grid and take the Spanish F4 crown? They are all worthy winners, that’s for sure.

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With the start dates of the Regional Formula 4 Championships fast approaching, let’s get up to speed with everything you’ll need to know.

Following on from the first round of French Formula 4 earlier this month, the Spanish Formula 4 Series kicks off this weekend in Valencia (10th-12th April). Let’s familiarise ourselves with the format, calendar, history, as well as highlighting the three female drivers debuting in the series in 2026.

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Formula 4: An Overview

Formula 4 first launched in 2014: its mission to be a stepping stone for drivers towards the path to Formula 1 and other formula series. The focus is on young drivers rising through the ranks from karting, assisting them in their development as they begin their professional careers in single-seater racing.

Spanish F4 boasts a unique combination of circuits - all of them being venues of Formula 1 or Moto GP events. With a well-balanced calendar, a wide testing programme and official events, it offers the optimal environment for young drivers to progress in the world of motorsport.

Spanish F4 in History

Spanish F4 was launched in 2016, with support from all stakeholders involved allowing the championship to be recognised almost instantly at a European and global level. Certified by the FIA, it is supported by major brands such as Hankook, Tatuus, Abarth and the endorsement of the Real Federación Española de Automovilismo (RFEDA).

Since the category’s introduction ten years ago, many drivers have managed to carve out successful careers, competing at the highest level in categories such as FIA F2, F3, ELMS or WEC in the LMP2 category. Some have gone on to become members of young driver development programmes of the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes, and some have even been able to gain experience in Formula 1.

A large majority of female drivers who have participated in the series have been selected to take part in W-Series, which has now been replaced by F1 Academy - undoubtedly one of its greatest achievements by recognising the success and talent of women in the sport.

The Spanish series has since become one of the leading single-seater categories in the world, about to host its eleventh season in 2026. Since its inaugural season in 2016, the championship has evolved from three teams and 19 drivers to 12 teams and 36 drivers competing in 2026. However, our main focus here is on the three female drivers who will be competing this season: Luna Fluxà, Maria Neto and Zoe Florescu.

Format

Each weekend is divided into seven sessions:

There are at least 180 minutes of guaranteed track time every weekend. This ensures the main objective of the championship is fulfilled: to train young drivers in the best possible way ahead of their promotion to higher categories.

The best lap from Q1 sets the grid for Race 1, the second-best lap from Q1 sets the grid for Race 2, and the best lap from Q2 sets the grid for Race 3. In the case that Q1 cannot go ahead, Race 1’s grid will be set using the classification from free practice, and Race 2’s grid will be set using the fastest laps from Race 1. The same goes for Race 3 as Race 2 - if Q2 cannot go ahead, the fastest laps from Race 2 will be used to set the grid.

Races 1 and 3 are awarded with the standard FIA points format, with 25 points awarded to the winner down to one point for the 10th-place finisher. Race 2 follows the same format, but with 18 points awarded to the winner and one for the ninth-place finisher. One point is awarded to the driver with the fastest lap, and two points to the pole-sitters in the qualifying sessions.

Each driver is given three sets of new tyres each weekend and two sets of used tyres from previous official events. For the first event, each driver has four sets of new tyres and is not allowed to use already used tyres from previous season’s official events.

The Car

Tatuus is the sole vehicle supplier for Spanish F4. Since 2022, the championship has been raced with the second generation of single-seater: TATUUS F4-T421.

Tyres: Hankook F200 (C7).

Engine: 1.4 TURBO ABARTHENGINE, 176 hp.

Chassis: TATUUS F4-T421.

2026 Calendar

The 2026 Spanish F4 Championship will host seven rounds - five events across venues in Spain, and two events abroad.

The calendar ensures to offer a balance between fast, technical and demanding circuits. For drivers to be successful and stand out amongst the competition, they must adapt to these different track styles and potentially tricky conditions.

Next: Meet the Women Competing in the 2026 Spanish F4 Championship

Now that you’re prepped and ready for the 2026 Spanish F4 season, all that’s left to do is introduce the three female drivers who will be making their mark on the series. Luna Fluxà, Maria Neto and Zoe Florescu all begin exciting new chapters of their motorsport careers in 2026, making their full debuts in F4 in the upcoming Spanish Series.

With a new challenge awaiting for all three, they will be determined to prove themselves and their capabilities. 2026 will be the most significant year of their lives and careers so far, and it’s only just the beginning.

Stay tuned for our next article: Spanish Formula 4 in 2026 - Meet the Female Driver Line up.

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The French Formula 4 Series kicked off at the Circuit de Nogaro over the Easter weekend and it sees seven female drivers competing full-time in the series. A mix of rookies and experienced drivers make up the list with a number of French drivers joined by an Italian, a Canadian and in a European single seater history first, a Cuban.

So let’s take a look at the female driver line-up for the French Formula 4 2026 Season and how they got on in their opening round.

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Isabella Abreu

Born in Cuba but now based in Miami, Isabella Abreu is a one-woman powerhouse determined to make it all the way to the pinnacle of motorsport. Having competed in Spec Miatas and the JSF4 Series in the United States, Isabella has now made history in 2026.

That’s because, by entering this season of the FFSA Championship, she’s become not only the first female Cuban but the first Cuban in history to compete in single-seater racing in Europe. Participating in a series aimed at both developing drivers and ensuring they get to showcase their racing abilities to everyone across the continent, where cameo appearances in other F4 regional series is not uncommon, makes it a calculated and wise move from the young and exciting Cuban.

“None of this was easy. Nothing was given as a gift. My family and I left our whole lives in this dream — sleepless nights, workouts until the body gave out, sacrifices no one saw but that mean everything.

I grew up dreaming of this moment. And although many times the lack of money wanted to extinguish this road, it could never extinguish the desire. Because when you don’t have resources, you learn to be strong.. to run with rage, with hunger, with purpose.

Today I’m representing my country, Cuba, at the international level in automotive.. and that doesn’t come from luck. It comes from a struggle. Of pain. Of not giving up when everyone said I couldn’t.. exactly what we Cubans represent to us.” - Isabella Abreu

Isabella’s debut in French Formula 4 was one to be proud of too. From Practice 1 right up until the final race of the opening round saw consistent improvement from the Cuban, most represented in both improving lap times and clean racecraft. In a field of over thirty drivers, chaos can and does often happen. Putting together a neat race weekend when starting out is more important than finishing positions. It’s a brilliant way to kick off a maiden campaign and that’s exactly what Isabella did on the first time of asking. Aiming to be noticed by F1 Academy in the near future and as one of the few rookie female drivers on the grid this year, we’ll be watching her career this year with great interest.

Annabelle Brian

The eighteen year old Dutch Driver has competed in Formula 4 before in 2025. With a best result of P11 at the opening round of the season at the Circuit de Nogaro, where she was also noted as the best female driver that weekend, Annabelle will be looking to build on that solid foundation in 2026. This year, she’ll already be familiar with the nature of the Championship, how a race weekend works and what to expect come race day. Prior to French Formula 4, Annabella had the traditional route up the motorsport ladder via karting and also competed in the IAME Ladies Cup.

Back in the present day, Annabelle had a highest finishing position across last weekend of P14 was a good way to start the new season. On top of that, Annabelle also finished in second place in the Ladies’ Championship at the end of the third race, one of seven different drivers to be on the podium in that class over the weekend.

Sofia Zanfari

Karting for the first time in Marbella led Sofia Zanfari to compete in Europe, the U.S and in Abu Dhabi. Sofia got into karting with her debut outing in 2013. In 2015, the Moroccan Driver finished tenth overall in the championship and then went on to finish first in the US Open in Micro Max which saw fourty-three participants competing.

After some time away following 2019, Sofia returned and this time, she competed in the OK Senior category, returning to the fold in 2024 too. Last year, Sofia stepped up to single seaters properly by joining the FFSA grid with a highest finishing result of P18 in two of the three races held in Spa. This year, she returns to the series. also with the target of reaching F1 Academy in the future.

Sofia was consistent at the Circuit de Nogaro, finishing in P17 in both the first and second race of the weekend before a DNF took her out of the running for the third race. That seventeenth place was enough to secure third place on the podium for the Ladies’ Championship after the second race on Sunday.

Clara Stiebleichinger

2026 won’t be Clara’s first time racing in single seater machinery and out of all of the drivers listed here, is potentially the one with the most expectation on her shoulders. After a foundational amount of time karting, Clara competed in the Indian Formula 4 Championship last year - one of a number of female drivers to do so. While the podium eluded her, she put on many impressive performances, including a P4 finish at the Madras International Circuit and a strong four race streak of points at the end of the season across the Kari Motor Speedway and again at the Madras International Circuit.

Last weekend, Clara was well and truly in the mix in the first two races of the weekend. Finishing in P16 and P14 respectively, she was on the podium for both races as a result in the women’s class. A DNF came her way during Monday’s final race for the opening round but with as solid a showing as she displayed, many will be hoping that to be a case of the exception, rather than the rule in 2026.

Autumn Fisher

With three karting series in her rear view mirror that she’s competed in over the last two years, the Canadian driver will now make her single seater debut in 2026 in the FFSA Championship. The second and final female driver from across the pond to compete in the series alongside Abreu, Fisher will be aiming to learn the ropes of the series as quickly as possible so that she can build a solid first season together over the course of the year.

Like Abreu, Fisher had a really promising opening round of the French Formula 4 Championship. She kept it clean throughout, taking advantage of the opportunities that came her way. P24 would be her highest finishing position across the weekend with a steady improvement in lap times too as the sessions wore on.

Angélina Proneca

Another driver with a full season of French Formula 4 under her belt is Angelina Proneca. Like Annabelle, her best performance of the season came at the opening round of the season at the Circuit de Nogaro where she finished the third race in P13. That potential returned later in the season too with a P15 finish in Spa and a P17 finish at the season finale in Le Mans.

The sixteen year old French driver has been karting since 2020, honing her fundamental racing skills in that category of racing until last season when she jumped up into single seaters for the first time. Like the other returning drivers on this list, Angélina will be looking to build on what has come before and apply all of her racing knowledge to break firmly into the top ten come race day this season.

Proneca qualified in P24 for all three races and improved upon that starting position for all three races. Getting as high as P18 in the second of the three races held last weekend, she was also able the following day, with her result of P21, to claim second on the podium in the women’s class.

Héloïse Goldberg

The seventeen year old French driver had a character building debut year in the FFSA Championship last season. While she struggled to break into the top twenty all season long, only one DNF plagued her results, one of only four drivers to have such an experience. Having karted before then and also been an assistant karting coach, Héloise’s focus for the 2026 season will be take that consistency that she demonstrated last season and use it to move herself further up on the order on a regular basis, while keeping out of trouble with any battles between rival competitors up ahead.

That consistency that Héloise demonstrated last year came straight back into play as the new season began. Finishing in the mid to high twenties over the three races across the weekend, her focus was on building upon that foundation from last year and becoming quicker in the process. This was most evident in her lap times as she was almost two seconds quicker by the end of the weekend than she had been at the start. At the end of the final race too, she claimed the final spot on the women’s podium.

Ginevra Panzeri

Another driver racing in this year’s FFSA Championship who isn’t a newcomer to the single seater way of life is Ginevra Panzeri. The Italian Driver enters the series for the first time having competed previously in the Formula Winter Series. Competing for six races at the tail end of the 2025 season, she returned full time in 2026. Ginevra finished in an impressive P9 on her debut in Estoril but was sadly unable to replicate that performance again. She finished the season in P29 overall with a next highest finish of P18 at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.

Still, with a solid amount of F4 experience now under her belt, Ginevra will be looking to hit the ground running when the FFSA Championship gets underway at the Circuit de Nogaro.

However, that didn’t go exactly to plan. After a decent time in practice and qualifying, the first race ended in a DNF for the Italian. To further compound her problems, it was later revealed that she suffered from a shoulder injury prior to the first race that then became compounded. As a result, she would not be able to compete in the second and third races of the opening French Formula 4 weekend.

Bonus Drivers - Jade Jaquet and Lisa Billard

Fresh from the opening round of F1 Academy in Shanghai last month, Jade and Lisa took advantage of the lack of a round in Saudi Arabia to return to French Formula 4, having both competed last season. Lisa had an excellent weekend, qualifying as high as P11 and P10 and converting that into a best finish of P8 for Sunday’s second race. All three of her results were good enough to put her on top of the podium in the women’s category after each race. It’s of little surprise that she was the women’s champion in the series last year.

Jade had a mixed bag of a weekend in contrast. P13 was her end result for the first race after starting in P18. But back to back DNFs for the other two races in the weekend halted her progress. Both were unfortunate learning curve moments for the Williams backed driver but there’s no doubt that she’ll be one to take the positives from the weekend, especially in terms of gaining more track time and overall experience.

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French Formula 4 returns May 15th at Dijon.

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What is French Formula 4?

French Formula 4 is an open-wheel racing series that was originally founded in 1993 by Louis Drouet. Based in France, its aim is to help with the transition from karting to single-seater racing and prepare drivers for the next step on their single-seater journey. The series itself is currently organised by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) - hence why you often see it referred to as the FFSA Championship.

Crucially, since 2018, the series runs under the umbrella of the FIA. Around thirty drivers compete each season, with fifteen different nationalities on the grid this year. Importantly too, the drivers of the French Formula 4 Championship will be able to score points towards the super license needed to compete in Formula 1.

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A Look Back in Time

Since 1993, a number of notable names have competed in the series and gone on to win the Championship. Jean-Éric Vergne won the title in 2007, followed by Stoffel Vandoorne in 2010, Caio Collet in 2018 and Ayumu Iwasa in 2020. Pierre Gasly, now racing for Alpine in Formula 1, also competed in the series as did Red Bull’s latest driver Isack Hadjar.

French Formula 4 Format

A race weekend in French Formula 4 usually takes place over three days, Friday to Sunday, with free practice sessions on the first day.

Naturally, the qualifying session determines the starting order for the first race while the second fastest time the grid sets the order for the third race. The grid for the second race, however, is set by reversing the top ten finishers of the first race.

Each race lasts twenty minutes plus an additional lap. Tyres are allocated to each driver in sets of four for each race weekend and must last the duration of the race weekend. When it comes down to the points awarded for each race, it’s pretty straightforward. For Race 1 and Race 3, it’s done in the same style as Formula 1. 25 points are awarded to the race winner, 18 for second place, 15 for third and so on down to one point for finishing in tenth place.

Race 2 however is slightly different, as it’s the reverse grid race of the weekend. It sees first place take fifteen points, all the way down to one point for the driver that finishes in P8.

The Car

The French F4 Championship are run 100% French cars that are created in line with the latest safety and performance standards required for the FIA Formula 4 specifications, which includes an identical power to eight ratio. Built by Mygale and FIA-certified since 2021, it is a 100% carbon monohull of the latest generation.

The halo is one of the latest safety features on the car, introduced in 2022 and the Renault Sport 1.3-litre turbocharged direct injection engine is powered by Repsol’s 100% renewable biofuel. It also includes front and rear impact absorbers, anti-intrusion side panels as well as front and rear, hoops, extractable seat, head restrain, wheel retention cables, on-board fire extinguisher and retractable steering column, improved seat and tank safety and crashworthiness, weight savings and improved aerodynamic efficiency are its strengths.

The 2026 French Formula 4 Championship Calendar

The 2026 calendar will be composed of six rounds held between April and October, racing all over France with one stop outside of the country as the series visits the legendary circuit as Spa for the third round of the Championship. Check out the full calendar below:

Round 1 - April 4th – 6th: Circuit de Nogaro

Round 2 - May 15th–17th: Dijon-Prenois

Round 3 - June 19th-21st: Spa-Francorchamps

Round 4 - July 31st – August 2nd: Magny-Cours

Round 5 - September 18th–20th: Lédenon

Round 6 - October 9th – 11th: Le Castellet (Paul-Ricard)

Eight Women Competing This Year

This year, eight women are competing in the French Formula 4 Series. Isabella Abreu, Annabelle Brian, Sofia Zanfari, Clara Stiebleichinger, Autumn Fisher, Angelina Proneca, Ginevra Panzeri and Héloïse Goldberg will all take to the grid and you can learn more about them in our next article which will give you a snapshot view of each driver and why they’re ones to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

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