The Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by FIA, is delighted to announce Chiara Bättig as the 2026 recipient of the Jake Cook Memorial Award.
Voted for by all current Team Managers, the coveted prize is bestowed upon the driver who has demonstrated determination, hard work, personal growth, resilience, personality and respect – both on and off the track – throughout the season.
Designed to honour the memory of Jake Cook, who sadly passed away in November 2023 after experiencing his own mental health struggles, the award is championed by his wife, British F4 Championship Manager Eve Lake-Grange.
Enjoying a fledgling career that saw him achieve success in categories such as Ginetta Juniors, Formula Ford and Formula Renault, Jake became one to watch and was the first recipient of the MSA’s Young Driver of the Year Award in 2010.
From there, he became a familiar face in the British F4 paddock, sharing his passion and expertise in the sport he loved by taking on the role of Academy Coach. This allowed him to support many drivers competing in the UK’s premier single-seater series.
Bättig, who made her series debut with Hitech this year, is the third winner of the prestigious award, following in the footsteps of Martin Molnár in 2024 and Tommy Harfield in 2025.
The Red Bull Junior driver has proven to be one of the revelations of the past season, with her best results coming in the form of two third-place finishes at Silverstone – one on the Grand Prix circuit and the other on the National layout.
In addition, the Swiss-born teenager secured a front-row start in qualifying at Croft, scored points regularly and finished just outside the top ten in the Drivers’ Championship.
Alongside receiving a trophy, Bättig’s award also saw Eve and her family make a donation to mental health charity Mind. At the end-of-season awards, it was announced that a further £1,200 would be donated by teams, partners and members of the British F4 paddock.
“Chiara is a deserving winner of this year’s Jake Cook Memorial Award,” said Eve. “This accolade was created in Jake’s memory, and I know he would agree with the decision our Team Managers have made.
“There are many traits that Jake possessed that Chiara has demonstrated throughout this season, and seeing her stand on the podium twice at Silverstone was fantastic. She is a real natural talent behind the wheel and has grown as both a person and a competitor as the year has gone on.
“She has a bright future ahead of her, and knowing that her name is associated with this special award not only makes me personally happy, but also underlines the incredible platform that British F4 has created for up-and-coming drivers.”
Chiara Bättig said: “It is a very special award, and for a really, really good cause. It means a lot to me to have won it this year.
“It wasn’t the greatest start to the season, but we used every race to build on things, move forward and get quicker. Receiving this award from Eve is a nice acknowledgement, and I am really happy to have won it. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me – it’s a lovely way to remember my 2026 season.”
