The longest-running Formula 4 championship comes back for its 12th edition this weekend at Misano, with a grid of 41 drivers hoping to follow in the footsteps of record-breaking reigning champion Freddie Slater. Feeder Series tells you all you need to know about Italian F4’s 2025 season.

By Francesca Brusa

Italian F4 is one of the series that has graduated the most drivers to higher ranks on the junior single-seater ladder. Lando Norris, Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are only some of the names that have haunted the rounds of this championship since its inception. 

In 2024, Freddie Slater left an unforgettable mark in the history books of Italian F4 by bringing the record of wins in one season to 15. The British racer is currently competing at the regional level in GB3 and will kick off his FRegional Europe campaign this weekend at the same venue, having already made a cameo appearance in the Bahrain F3 round.

The 2025 Italian F4 grid promises to light up the competition from the early stages of the season, with a large, talent-filled driver line-up. The number of entry requests prompted the championship to increase the number of races in a weekend to four and to reshape the qualifying format. 

The calendar

Similarly to last year, the 2025 Italian F4 season will kick off in Misano on the first weekend of May. This time around, however, the championship will circle back to the coastal town for the finale, giving up its second international event at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France.

The calendar holds events at three current F1 circuits – Monza, Imola and Barcelona – as well as Tuscan Grand Prix host and longtime favourite Mugello. Sister series E4, formerly Euro 4, will follow later in the year, holding its first of three rounds in late July at Le Castellet. 

• Round 1: Misano World Circuit (2–4 May)
• Round 2: Autodromo Vallelunga (23–25 May)
• Round 3: Autodromo Nazionale Monza (20–22 June)
• Round 4: Mugello Circuit (11–13 July)
• Round 5: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (1–3 August) 
• Round 6: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (19–21 September)
• Round 7: Misano World Circuit (10–12 October)

The format

Every Italian F4 racing weekend starts in the same way, with two free practice sessions lasting 40 minutes each. Qualifying sessions and races, however, take two very different forms depending on how many participants enter the event.

In cases of low attendance, all drivers take part in two qualifying sessions. The first one sets the grid for race one, while the second one does the same for race two. The starting order for race three is determined by the second-fastest lap time set by the competitors in either of the qualifying sessions. All races in this format last 30 minutes plus one lap.

In cases of high attendance, the grid is split in two series, each of which has to participate in one of two 20-minute qualifying sessions. At the end of both sessions, a ranking is drawn, with the fastest driver from the first series earning first position, the fastest from the second series earning second, the second-fastest from the first series earning third, and so on.

Based on their positions in this overall classification, competitors are then divided into three groups: A for the drivers classified first, fourth, seventh, and so on; B for those in second, fifth, eighth, and so on; and C for those in third, sixth, ninth, and so on. Race one will be contested between groups B and C, race two between groups A and B and race three between groups A and C. Each of these races lasts 25 minutes plus one lap.

At the end of this tournament, a collective classification is drawn by adding up the points obtained in the first three races and the best 36 drivers are allowed into a final race, which lasts 25 minutes plus one lap.

Championship points are awarded after each race, with the winner earning 25 points and the remainder of the top 10 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 in descending order. No points are awarded for pole position or fastest lap. 

Where to watch

Free practice and qualifying sessions are only accessible via live timing. The races, however, will be live-streamed on the Italian F4 YouTube and Facebook channels and the ACI Sport website. 

Teams and drivers

Three teams that raced in 2024 are not currently planning to return for 2025. Most notably, AKM Motorsport will not take part in this year’s Italian F4 campaign, having decided to focus on the three-round sister series E4. The team run by Marco Antonelli – the father of Mercedes F1 rookie – finished seventh in 2024. Also absent are BVM Racing, who ran one car in four of the seven rounds for Jan Koller, and ART Grand Prix, who entered two of their three F1 academy drivers last year in their only appearance at the final round in Monza.

Prema Racing

In 2024 and for the third year in a row, Prema Racing were crowned champions. With more than half of last season’s line-up either switching teams or stepping up to the regional level, the Grisignano di Zocco–based squad will be able to count on promising returnees and new faces as they seek to triumph for a fourth time out of four seasons with the current-generation F4 car. 

Oleksandr Bondarev (#27) was the first driver to be confirmed at Prema Racing for 2025. The Williams junior, 16, made his debut in cars last year by taking part in the last two rounds of Italian F4, with a best finish of 11th in race one at Monza. For the winter, Bondarev headed to the Middle East, where he competed in the region’s F4 championship and claimed points in 10 of 15 races. 

Partnering the Ukrainian driver will be Zhenrui Chi (#28). The 17-year-old debuted in single-seaters late last year when he participated in Formula Trophy UAE and achieved one pole position, two podiums and three further points finishes. These results put him fifth in the overall standings and earned him the rookie champion title. Chi also competed in the 2025 F4 Middle East season, scoring points in 12 of 15 races and finishing ninth overall.

Salim Hanna (#88) will continue his journey with Prema Racing into his first Italian F4 campaign, having been connected to the team since his karting days. The Colombian racer, 15, made his car racing debut in the 2024 season of Formula Trophy UAE and claimed five points finishes. Hanna went on to race in F4 Middle East this winter, ranking sixth in the standings with one podium and five further top-five results. 

Returning for a sophomore season in the series with the Italian outfit is Kean Nakamura-Berta (#51). In his first campaign in Italian F4, the Alpine junior quickly took centre stage with one win and four further podiums in addition to clinching the runner-up spot in the rookies’ standings. The Japanese-Slovakian driver, racing under a British licence, fared better in the championship’s sister series, Euro 4, in which he prevailed among the debutants with one overall win and two further podiums to his name. Earlier this year, Nakamura-Berta flew over to the Middle East, where he took part in the F4 championship and finished every race but one in the top five – an effort that put him third in the standings. 

Tomass Štolcermanis (#33) is also set to come back to the series for his second season. In his first campaign in Italian F4, the 17-year-old clinched one fastest lap, one podium and 15 further points finishes. These results helped the Latvian driver to ninth in the overall standings and third among the rookies. That same year, Štolcermanis participated in Euro 4, in which he scored one pole position, two podiums and six further points finishes. In the 2025 F4 Middle East season, he secured victory in the second race of the season and brought home four further podiums and nine other points finishes to finish fourth in the standings.

From the other side of the Atlantic Ocean comes Sebastian Wheldon (#98), Prema Racing’s newest recruit for the 2025 Italian F4 season. A star in USF Juniors and an Andretti junior, the 16-year-old American racer has already gotten to know the team by competing in the last two races of the Formula Trophy UAE – achieving a win in the process – and the full season of F4 Middle East, in which he scored one podium and 11 further points finishes.

US Racing

After clinching the drivers’ title against all odds in 2023 with Kacper Sztuka, Kerpen-based US Racing had to settle for second last year in both the drivers’ and teams’ standings. The key for US Racing’s line-up in 2025 is its experience. Every single driver has already competed in either Italian F4 or sister series Euro 4, and all partnered with the team in the Formula Winter Series. 

Joining US Racing will be Gabriel Gomez (#78). The 18-year-old Brazilian racer competed in the first round of the 2024 Euro 4 season with PHM Racing, but he is best known for what he has achieved over the winter: with four pole positions, three fastest laps, three wins and six further podiums, he was crowned FWS champion.

Alpine junior Kabir Anurag (#19) will continue his journey with the German squad after joining forces with them for his second year in single-seaters in 2024. The Singaporean driver, 17, claimed a total of three points finishes across the two main F4 series in Italy before heading to the UAE and finishing third in the Formula Trophy series with two wins. Anurag also participated in FWS earlier this year, bagging two wins and two further podiums to come fourth in the championship.

Maxim Rehm (#71) will return for his sophomore season in the series with US Racing. Last year, the 17-year-old German driver and the German team joined forces for Italian F4, Euro 4 and FWS, and Rehm claimed one podium in Italian F4 as well as a win in the sister European series. This winter, Rehm came fifth in the standings in FWS with one win and two further podiums.

Making the switch to the German outfit is Jan Koller (#50). Until this year, the Czech driver, 17, had been a member of Italian team BVM Racing, with whom he joined forces in both Italian F4 and F4 CEZ but did not claim any points finishes. Earlier this year, however, Koller competed in FWS and notched his first points in single-seaters in the final round of FWS with US Racing.

Also changing teams for this year is Andrija Kostić (#4). The 16-year-old Serbian spent his debut year in single-seaters participating in F4 CEZ with Jenzer Motorsport and in Italian F4 and Euro 4 with Van Amersfoort Racing, taking his best finish of sixth twice across all series. He has started 2025 in FWS, with better results already, finishing in the points in five of 12 FWS races with a best of fourth in the season opener. 

Rounding out the team’s line-up for 2025 is 17-year-old Luka Sammalisto (#7). After making his single-seater debut last year in F4 UAE, the Finnish driver headed to Italian F4 and Euro 4. He collected a total of four points finishes across the two series after being hampered by a mid-season back injury that sidelined him from several rounds. Earlier this year, Sammalisto partnered with US Racing in the first and last rounds of FWS, claiming points in all six races.

Van Amersfoort Racing

Since 2021, when they brought home both titles in Italian F4 with champion Oliver Bearman, Van Amersfoort Racing have occupied a liminal space in the pecking order: a cut above the teams below but never truly in the fight for the crown. In 2024, the Dutch outfit secured third place in the championship, albeit with a 210-point gap to US Racing. Their best-placed driver, Hiyu Yamakoshi, briefly led the drivers’ standings during the second round but settled for third at season’s end.

Leading an almost entirely new line-up – all of whom are 16 years of age – is Maksimilian Popov (#3), who has switched to the Zeewolde-based squad for his 2025 campaign after having participated in the series last year with PHM Racing. In 2024, the Russian racer brought home six points finishes across Italian F4 and Euro 4. Popov also took part in the second round of F4 CEZ that same year, bagging one win and one third place in three races. This winter, he participated in FWS, finishing sixth in the standings with two podiums.

Sticking with the Dutch team for his first full season in Italian F4 is Dante Vinci (#66). The Sydney native made a cameo appearance in the final round of the series last year but contested his first full championship this winter in FWS, in which he scored points in four races and took three rookie wins.

Payton Westcott (#94) will make her debut in Italian F4 for the 2025 season as part of her first year in single-seaters. The American driver also took part in FWS earlier this year with Van Amersfoort Racing and had a best finish of 13th in race three at Aragón.

Marcus Sæter (#67) will also join Van Amersfoort Racing for his first campaign in Italian F4. The Norwegian driver made his car racing debut in 2024 when he participated in the Ginetta Junior Championship and claimed two wins and six further podiums.

Joining the Italian F4 grid in 2025 is Aleksander Ruta (#38). This campaign will be part of the Polish driver’s debut year in single-seaters, which he started with FWS earlier this year. There, Ruta finished in the top 10 in the first races at Aragón and Barcelona. Despite being meant to get behind the wheel for Cram Motorsport, with whom he raced in the first three rounds of FWS, Ruta ultimately signed with Van Amersfoort for the season. 

Jenzer Motorsport

Jenzer Motorsport are one of the four teams to have raced in Italian F4 since season one in 2014. Last year, the Swiss outfit ranked fourth in the standings – their best finish since 2020, when they managed to clinch third position behind Prema and Van Amersfoort. 

Joining Jenzer for his first campaign in the championship is 17-year-old Bader Al Sulaiti (#26). The Qatari driver participated in this year’s F4 Middle East season, in which he scored one point with a best result of 12th. 

Enea Frey (#20) is set to partner with the Swiss team after a fruitful first year together. The 16-year-old claimed five points finishes across Italian F4, sister series Euro 4 and FWS in 2024 as well as three top-fives in his sole F4 CEZ appearance. He also competed in this year’s FWS season and came ninth in the championship with eight points finishes to his name.

Partnering with the Helvetian is Bart Harrison (#77), the current F4 CEZ championship leader with two wins from three races. The York native, 17, completed a campaign in British F4 last year – scoring points in eight races – and made a cameo appearance in the final round of the Italian F4 season with a best result of 15th. Harrison also took part in the 2025 FWS season, stepping on the podium twice and collecting points on another seven occasions to finish seventh in the standings. 

Teo Schropp (#21) of Argentina will also join Jenzer for Italian F4 and F4 CEZ. The Argentine racer, 16, competed last year in the first seven rounds of Fórmula 2 Argentina, finishing every race but one in the points.

Rounding out the Swiss outfit’s line up is Artem Severiukhin (#23). The 18-year-old made his debut in cars earlier this year in FWS, scoring points in seven races and clinching 10th place in the championship. 

PHM Racing

Last year, PHM Racing collected their worst result since they joined the series in 2022 by finishing fifth in the teams’ championship. In Euro 4, the Berlin-based squad, who split from the AIX Racing entity towards the end of last year, claimed one pole position and one podium thanks to Davide Larini.

Sticking with PHM Racing for his main campaign will be David Cosma Cristofor (#13). The 16-year-old Romanian made his car racing debut earlier this year in F4 Middle East with the German outfit and scored on five occasions. 

Andrea Dupe (#5) was at the centre of a controversial last-minute team switch, but the 16-year-old will ultimately race with PHM Racing for his 2025 Italian 4 season. The Parisian debuted in single-seaters this winter in FWS with AS Motorsport, with whom he had originally signed, and finished in the top 10 in two races. 

R-ace GP

With only a two-driver line-up last year in Italian F4, R-ace GP mostly treaded water in their sixth year in the series. But the Fontenay-le-Comte–based team had an outstanding season in F4 Middle East, clinching not only the teams’ title but also a 1-2 in the drivers’ championship. Their four-driver line-up from that campaign, plus one addition, will hope to replicate that result on European soil.

Joining forces with R-ace GP for a in Europe after his Middle East masterclass is Emanuele Olivieri (#68). The Canelli native, 16, debuted in single-seaters last year in FWS and completed his first full season in Italian F4, in which he scored points four times while at AKM Motorsport. Having switched teams over the winter, Olivieri found a new lease on life and became the surprise runaway champion in F4 Middle East, with six wins and seven further podiums to his name. 

Partnering with the Italian racer will be 17-year-old Alex Powell (#41), who earlier this year split with Prema Racing for the first time since he started his career in cars. In 2024, the Miami-born Mercedes junior bagged a total of two wins and nine further podiums across F4 UAE, Italian F4 and Euro 4. In the 2025 F4 Middle East season, Powell was the runner-up to teammate Olivieri, winning five of the final eight races and stepping on the podium four further times.

Rounding out R-ace GP’s line-up is Oleksandr Savinkov (#52). The Ukrainian-licenced driver, 16, made his debut in single-seaters in 2024, racing in FWS and Italian F4 with AKM Motorsport alongside Olivieri but not scoring any points. Savinkov also joined forces with the French outfit for their successful F4 Middle East campaign earlier this year, scoring points in 10 of 15 races.

Emily Cotty (#42) already got acquainted with the French outfit in F4 Middle East earlier this year, scoring points twice. The 15-year-old British racer also made appearances in the Silverstone national round of British F4, the last two rounds of Formula Trophy UAE and last round of FWSh, though she did not score points in any of them. 

The year’s Italian F4 campaign will mark the first in full in single-seaters for 16-year-old Guy Albag (#44). The Israeli driver made his debut in cars this winter at the Valencia round of FWS, with a best finish of 14th. Feeder Series understands that he had originally been planning to race in the series with Akcel GP, who have since not appeared on the grid.

Maffi Racing

Maffi Racing failed to score points in their first two Italian F4 seasons in 2022 and 2023, but last year, the Swiss team put six on the board in the penultimate race of the season. The jump in performance may have been ephemeral, but it represents a tiny step forward for the Geneva-based squad.

The driver responsible for the achievement was Kirill Kutskov (#31), who will continue with the Swiss team after taking part in the final Italian F4 round. The 16-year-old Russian, who competes under a neutral licence, also partnered with the Italian team in F4 CEZ last year, when he claimed the runner-up spot with six wins and five further podiums. Kutskov also appeared in two FWS rounds earlier this year, scoring points twice. 

Sticking with the team is Nathanaël Berreby (#22). In 2024, the Swiss-Panamanian racer made his debut in cars with the team and competed in FWS, Italian F4 and F4 CEZ. In the last of those, the 17-year-old even clinched his maiden podium in race two at Brno.

Kornelia Olkucka (#91) also continues her journey with the team. The 21-year-old Polish racer competed in F4 CEZ in 2024 with the Swiss team, finishing in the points in nine of 15 races she entered to come 17th in the standings. She was the lowest-placed full-time runner in FWS over the winter.

Lastly, the team will line up David Walther (#45) of Denmark. The 17-year-old driver made his debut in cars earlier this year by participating in two rounds of FWS. 

Real Racing

Real Racing joined the Italian F4 grid last year to offer a springboard for young Romanian drivers hoping to step into the European motorsport scene. In their first season in the series, the team finished just one place away from points in race one at Mugello.

The team will retain its driver line-up for the 2025 campaign, with 16-year-old Luca Viişoreanu (#11), who gave them that 11th-place finish, taking on a second season in the series. Apart from his exploits in Italian F4, the Romanian driver competed in sister championship Euro 4 in 2024 – in which he scored points in three races – and in F4 CEZ’s Red Bull Ring round, in which he finished in the top 10 in all three races. 

Also coming back for more in Italian F4 is Andrei Dună (#81). The Romanian racer, 18, participated in the first and the last rounds of last year’s season of the championship after he finished 17th in French F4 in 2023 with six points finishes.

Cram Motorsport

Cram Motorsport is one of the longest-running teams in Italian F4, but they have been rather inconsistent throughout the years. They finished as high as fourth position in the teams’ standings in 2020, but the Italian outfit have experienced a decline since then, finishing 10th in the teams’ championship in 2024 with zero points to their name.

Elia Weiss (#39) will stick with Cram Motorsport after joining the team for his car racing debut in the third FWS round earlier this year. The 15-year-old German driver, a member of the Motorsport Team Germany programme, won the German Kart Championship in the X30 Senior category in 2024. 

AS Motorsport

Throughout the winter, AS Motorsport rebranded in hopes of taking points in Italian F4 for the first time since their debut in the series in 2018. The Slovenian outfit crossed the Mediterranean and came back with a best finish of eighth place, but Dupe, who took that result, has since parted ways with the team.

Instead, Phil Colin Strenge (#95) will join forces with AS Motorsport for his debut season in single-seaters. The 15-year-old German driver steps up from X30 Senior karting, having finished second behind Weiss in the German Kart Championship. 

Technorace

Technorace will return to Italian F4 this year with a full-fledged outfit after having partnered with BVM Racing in 2020.

The Avellino-based squad will debut with Francesco Coppola (#87). The 16-year-old already partnered with the team in 2024 for the F4-spec FX Pro Series to finish second in the standings. 

Viola Formula Racing

Another team joining the Italian F4 grid for the 2025 season is Viola Formula Racing. The San Benigno Canavese–based outfit competed in the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy last year and in the final round of FWS this winter, with a best finish of 14th in the latter. 

Turkish driver Emir Tanju (#30) has already partnered with Viola Formula Racing in his championship-winning Drexler-Automotive Formel Light Cup and F2000 Italian Formula Trophy F2.0 Cup seasons in 2024. The 17-year-old makes his F4 debut this season.

The team’s other two drivers are stepping up from karting. Ludovico Busso (#29) was the team’s FWS entry. The 16-year-old competed in a variety of senior karting competitions in 2024 .

Arthur Lorimier (#35), who is the first driver in the series born in the 2010s, is also new to the team outside of winter testing appearances. The French racer was a regular in karting through last year, though his karting exploits were cut short by a fractured arm he sustained in an accident at Sarno in July.

Header photo credit: Alex Galli