Payton Westcott Claims Class Victory as Italian F4 Campaign Continues at Mugello

Payton Westcott returned to action in the 2026 Italian Formula 4 Championship for the Mugello round, held from July 24-26, as she continued her campaign with R-ace GP. Racing at the undulating 5.245-kilometre Tuscan circuit, the 17-year-old American added another strong chapter to her season by securing a class victory and an additional class podium against one of Europe’s most competitive Formula 4 grids.

Mugello’s fast, flowing layout offered a fresh challenge for the championship, demanding precision through its sweeping corners and significant elevation changes. Westcott used the practice sessions to steadily improve her pace, finishing P38 in Free Practice 1 before making a notable step forward to P22 in Free Practice 2, reflecting the progress made alongside the R-ace GP engineering team.

Qualifying saw Westcott place 18th in Serie 1, earning a competitive starting position for the opening races of the weekend in another tightly contested Italian F4 field.

Race 1 proved to be the highlight of the event. Westcott delivered a clean and consistent drive to finish 20th overall, while claiming victory in the Women’s Trophy. Managing the demands of the challenging Mugello circuit, she maintained a strong rhythm throughout the race to secure maximum class honors and continue her impressive run of Women’s Trophy success during the 2026 season.

She backed up that performance in Race 2 with another determined drive, crossing the line 23rd overall and finishing second in the Women’s Trophy. The result marked her second class podium of the weekend and demonstrated her consistency across the opening races despite the fiercely competitive nature of the championship.

The Mugello round further highlighted Westcott’s continued progression in Italian F4, where she has consistently built experience against some of the world’s leading junior single-seater talents. Her ability to convert steady improvements in pace into strong class results reflects both her development as a driver and the continued work alongside R-ace GP throughout the season.

Leaving Mugello with a Women’s Trophy victory and a runner-up finish in class, Westcott continues to gain momentum as she balances a demanding dual programme between the Italian F4 Championship and F1 Academy under the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team banner. With valuable points, race mileage, and continued development secured, she now turns her attention to the next rounds of an increasingly promising 2026 campaign.