While the countdown to Christmas is in full swing, so too are preparations for the 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA season, with the grid now beginning to take shape following a flurry of driver announcements in recent weeks.
Hot on the heels of what was a record-breaking campaign this past year, the UK’s premier single-seater series has seen entries – made up of new and existing faces to the championship – come in thick and fast.
After claiming the Drivers’ Championship in each of the past two seasons, Hitech go into next year as credible contenders and new recruit Theo Palmer will hope the lessons that were learnt during his rookie season will serve him well.
Palmer is joined at the Northamptonshire-based squad by two Red Bull Junior drivers, Scott Lindblom and Chiara Battig – both of whom arrive on British shores boasting rich pedigrees from their time in karting.
Over at reigning Teams’ Champions Rodin Motorsport, Alfie Slater will undoubtedly be one to watch as he makes the step up to single-seaters. Having enjoyed a sublime season in the Ginetta Junior Championship, the 15-year-old will be eager to hit the ground running from the get-go.
Virtuosi Racing has recruited well during the off-season and has already named three talented teenagers within its stable. Joseph Smith is a name fans will be familiar with having made an instant impact across the final four meetings of 2025, tallying a Rookie Cup win along the way.
Joining Smith at the Norfolk-based outfit are two Ginetta Junior Championship podium finishers, British sensation Jarrett Clark and Australian ace George Proudord-Nalder. Both will make their single-seater bows in 2026.
Another team that has been busy over the past two months has been Fortec Motorsport, which is brimming with four brand-new drivers – one of which has already established himself on the international stage.
Enjoying recent title success in the British Kart Championships and Saudi Arabian F4 Championship, Kit Belofsky brings his talents to British F4 and the expectation is that the social media star will be a force to be reckoned with.
In addition to Belofsky, Fortec are poised to make a small piece of history in 2026 as it fields twin brothers Cash and Roman Felber. They’re joined by fellow American Ethan Carney, who is graduating from the aforementioned Ginetta Junior Championship.
Chris Dittmann Racing, who claimed a long overdue maiden win this past season, will be back for another British F4 campaign too and they’ve secured the signing of Henry Mercier, who will return for a second season in the championship.
Lining up alongside the impressive Mercier is Daniella Sutton. A former karting champion and the inaugural winner of the coveted Fiesta Junior Scholarship, the Warrington racer will embark on her maiden season driving slicks and wings with the fledgling squad. Making a return to the series in 2026 will be Polish ace Piotr Orzechowski who will be aiming to take another step forward in pace across the season.
JHR Developments are quietly confident of a strong showing in 2026, with their first signing in the form of Lewis Wherrell expected to be fighting at the sharp end from the very start of the season.
Rounding out the driver announcements that have been made so far is Argenti Motorsport, who have signed Chinese native Sun Anzhe and promising Norwegian karting hotshot Vegard Klemetsen.
More team and driver announcements are expected to be made over the coming weeks so be sure to keep an eye on the British F4 website and social media channels for all the latest news and information.
The 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA season begins at Donington Park on 18-19 April 2026.