Formula Winter Series to commence at Portimao

Leading Formula 4 teams will contest the opening round of Gedlich Racing’s Formula Winter Series at the Algarve Circuit in Portugal this weekend.

Three races will be held across the weekend, with all set to be streamed live on the Winter Series YouTube channel.

Hitech TGR, Van Amersfoort Racing and Renauer Motorsport are among the new entrants to the four-round championship which takes in visits to Valencia and Aragon before concluding in Barcelona on 8-9 March.

Several protagonists from F1 Academy will face off against proven and new names to watch in single-seater racing. Here are some of the names to watch out for.

Leo Robinson, Hitech

A three-time race winner during the 2024 British F4 season with JHR Developments, Robinson is likely to be among the favourites. The Anglo-Algerian will be finding his feet with a new team during the Formula Winter Series, but the proven success of both he and the Hitech squad that ran newly-announced Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Deagen Fairclough to last year’s British F4 title marks the #6 entry as one to watch.

Thomas Bearman, Hitech

With eight races on his resume, Bearman qualifies to compete in the Rookie Trophy class for drivers with nine races or fewer in single seaters, as well as the overall standings. Bearman has the advantage of already competing with his 2025 team at the tail-end of the 2024 British F4 season, scoring two podiums within the rookie class. The brother of 2025 Haas F1 driver Oliver, Thomas will be looking to thrive in F4 just like his elder sibling, who won the 2021 Italian and ADAC F4 championships.

Fionn McLoughlin, also with Hitech, will make his single-seater racing debut in the FWS. The Irish 17-year-old’s debut in cars has been hotly anticipated, as he has been a front-runner on the international and World Championship karting stage in recent years.

Luka Sammalisto, US Racing

The 17-year-old had a promising season in 2024, registering well over 30 F4 races in 2024 across the Middle East and Europe. With significant experience under his belt, as well as a new alliance with 2023 Formula Winter Series-winning team US Racing, Sammalisto will hope to become the latest Flying Finn to register on the cognoscenti’s watch-lists.

Sebastian Bach, AS Motorsport

Danish driver Bach will hope to make music on his first appearances in the current-generation F4 car at Portimao. The Nordic 4 rookie champion will be a part of a three-car line-up that also features fellow 16-year-old Andrea Dupe, who despite only debuting in karts during 2021 finished second in the 2023 Italian OK Karting Championship. Bach has proven to be quick and consistent so far in his single seater tenure, and there is certainly potential for he and Dupe to perform well this season.

Alisha Palmowski, Campos Racing

A race-winner during her maiden single-seater campaign in GB4 last season, Briton Palmowski will contest two FWS rounds with the Spanish team she will join for F1 Academy in 2025. Campos will enter two cars in FWS, set to be rotated among its Red Bull-backed 2025 F1 Academy drivers, with three-time F4 Brazilian Championship race-winner Rafaela Ferreira also on the entry list for Portimao and Chloe Chambers, who won in F1 Academy last year at Barcelona, making her first appearance at Valencia.

Nine drivers are registered for the Female Trophy class for Portimao, with Alba Hurup Larsen (Jenzer) also using FWS as preparation for F1 Academy.

Nina Gademan is yet another driver who has previously competed in F1 Academy, and will compete in the first three rounds of the season for Hitech.