Payton Westcott Opens 2026 Italian F4 Campaign with Female Trophy Victory at Misano

Payton Westcott launched her 2026 Italian F4 Championship campaign at the Misano World Circuit with a strong showing in one of the largest and most competitive grids in the series’ history. Racing with French powerhouse R-ace GP, the American driver secured victory in the Female Trophy classification during the opening round while continuing to build experience in a 47-car field.

The opening weekend of the championship marked Westcott’s first Italian F4 appearance of the season alongside her dual programme in F1 Academy with PREMA Racing under the Mercedes Junior Team. Returning to the highly competitive Italian F4 paddock, she faced a demanding field featuring some of Europe’s top junior talents.

Across practice and qualifying, Westcott steadily improved her pace around the 4.226-kilometre Misano circuit. She consistently placed inside the midfield of her qualifying group while adapting to changing conditions and the intensity of multi-group sessions.

The highlight of the weekend came during Race 2, where Westcott delivered a composed drive to finish 16th overall and claim victory in the Female Trophy category for R-ace GP. Her performance allowed her to secure important classification points while demonstrating consistency in wheel-to-wheel battles across the tightly packed field.

Westcott also qualified for the Final race on Sunday, successfully advancing through the qualification heats in a weekend where only 36 drivers progressed to the deciding event. She ultimately finished 21st overall in the Final and added more valuable mileage in one of junior motorsport’s most competitive environments.

The Misano weekend represented another important step in Westcott’s development as she balances programmes across both F1 Academy and Italian F4 in 2026. With a Female Trophy win already secured in the opening round, she leaves Misano with positive momentum as the season continues.