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Author: Viktoriia Hvozd

Oleksandr Bondarev Starts His E4 Championship 2026 Campaign: How the First Round Went

Oleksandr Bondarev Starts His E4 Championship 2026 Campaign: How the First Round Went
Photo: Oleksandr Bondarev

The Ukrainian driver holds third place in the provisional drivers' standings.

Ukrainian Formula 4 driver Oleksandr Bondarev has started his E4 Championship campaign — a series that runs parallel to Italian F4, where he's now competing for a second season. Last year, the driver won the rookie standings, and this year's opening round took place July 3–5 at the Vallelunga circuit.

The Ukrainian finished in the points in all three races, earning 52 points and taking third place in the drivers' standings.

DeTalks is the official broadcaster of Formula 4 in Ukraine! Watch every race featuring Bondarev with Ukrainian commentary live on the YouTube channel of DeTalks.

How Oleksandr Bondarev Fared at the First Round of E4 Championship 2026

  • Bondarev posted the third- and first-fastest times in practice, respectively. Qualifying went worse for the Ukrainian: Oleksandr finished eighth in Q1 and 11th in the second qualifying session. The driver explained that this was due to engine issues.
  • Right from the start of the first race, Bondarev gained three positions, moving up to fifth. He then defended against Kenzo Craigie for the rest of the race and held onto his spot.
  • The Ukrainian started the second race in 11th. In the opening laps, the Prema Racing driver climbed into the top eight, but Andy Consani battled his way past Bondarev. With 15 minutes left in the race, Consani collided with Noah Killion, allowing Oleksandr to finish seventh.
  • In the third race, Bondarev was set to start seventh, but moved up a spot before the start after Italian driver Maccagnani retired. From the start, the Ukrainian gained two places, though the number of safety car periods left little room for overtaking. Oleksandr ultimately finished the round's final race just short of the podium.

E4 Championship 2026 Drivers' Standings After the Vallelunga Round

1. Luka Sammalisto — 82 points

2. Kenzo Craigie — 55

3. Oleksandr Bondarev — 52

Watch: Final Race of the First E4 Championship Round Featuring Oleksandr Bondarev

Bondarev's next start will be the second round of the E4 Championship, taking place July 17–19 at the Paul Ricard circuit in France.

#Motorsport#Oleksandr Bondarev#Formula 4