Red Bull Junior Fionn McLaughlin has claimed the British Formula 4 title with two races to spare after finishing second in the opening Brands Hatch contest.
The Hitech driver headed into the season finale with a commanding 61.5-point lead in the standings and duly clinched the spoils at the first time of asking in Kent.
McLaughlin maintained his second place off the line despite intense pressure from the fast-starting Adam Al Azhari.
However, with the Irishman’s key rival Jimmy Piszcyk continuing to lead from pole and setting the fastest lap in the early stages, it looked like McLaughlin was going to be forced to wait another day to secure the crown.
But first McLaughlin and then Piszcyk’s Rodin team-mate Al Azhari set the fastest time and that was just enough for McLaughlin to seal the deal. His points lead is now 52.5 with only 52 still up for grabs.
“It’s been a tough season and it just means a lot to me,” said McLaughlin. “I always go into every season hoping to win and that’s what I did.
“I wanted to win the race and that’s what I was trying to do, Jimmy was fast and I tried my best to catch him. I got close, but I’m just so proud of all the team and to win the championship is amazing.”
McLaughlin has enjoyed a very impressive maiden car racing campaign, scoring five wins en route to his title success.
He moved into the points lead after achieving his first victory at the third 2025 event at Snetterton, but was initially unable to pull clear of sophomore racer Martin Molnar.
The Virtuosi driver was a star rookie last year and progressed to mount a full title bid this time around, his cause being aided by McLaughlin missing out on another win at Snetterton when he damaged his front wing on a bollard and when the Irishman ran wide in the final race at the following Thruxton round and dropped a swathe of places.
McLaughlin then began to pull clear with successes at Oulton Park, Zandvoort and Knockhill and, despite some tricky races in Scotland and at Donington Park, he could have wrapped up the spoils at the penultimate Silverstone round.
However, he picked up a puncture after contact amid bunching on the opening lap of the middle race, which took the fight down to the Brands finale.
A tough Silverstone for Molnar meant reigning Australian F4 champion Piszcyk emerged as McLaughlin’s closest challenger. He had led the points after the first two events but a tough sequence of races in the middle of the year ultimately dropped him too far adrift.
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– The Autosport.com Team
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