Round 3 of the 2026 F4 Indian Championship, held at the Madras International Circuit, saw Goa Aces JA Racing’s Luviwe Sambudla take the overall lead after scoring two race wins. 15-year-old Aaron Mehta (driving for Kolkata Royal Tigers) also picked up a win, becoming the youngest-ever race winner in the championship’s history.
- Sambudla won 2 out of the 3 races in Round 3
- Mabunda finished P2 in all 3 races
F4 India Round 3: Goa Aces JA Racing, Kolkata Royal Tigers score wins
In Race 1, Sambudla aced the mixed conditions and quickly climbed up from P6 to P2. On Lap 9, race leader Aris Kyriakou lost rear grip, and Sambudla capitalised on this to take the race lead. He held on to that advantage till the chequered flag, taking victory by a margin of 9.606 seconds and even setting the fastest lap. Behind him, Speed Demons Delhi’s Ntiyiso Mabunda pulled off a strong recovery drive to go from P10 to P2, while Goa Aces JA Racing’s Aryan Narola completed the podium.
Sambudla carried that form into Race 2, where he once again started from sixth on the reverse grid. It was a much closer fight this time, though, with Mabunda keeping the pressure on throughout the race. Sambudla ultimately crossed the line just 1.211 seconds ahead of Mabunda. Kyriakou bounced back from a difficult Race 1 to complete the podium.
The round’s defining moment come in Race 3, where Mehta converted pole position into a breakthrough victory. The 15-year-old held his nerve through slippery conditions, a red flag stoppage and even a Safety Car intervention before resisting a late charge from Mabunda. Just 0.546 seconds separated the two at the finish line. Sambudla ended up third, making it to the podium in all three races for this round.
2026 F4 India championship standings
Heading into Round 3, it was Kyriakou who held the championship lead, while Sambudla was five points behind him. But the latest round has changed the landscape of the title battle, with Sambudla now holding a 21-point lead.
F4 India Race 1 results
1. Luviwe Sambudla (Goa Aces JA Racing)
2. Ntiyiso Mabunda (Speed Demons Delhi)
3. Aryan Narola (Goa Aces JA Racing)
F4 India Race 2 results
1. Luviwe Sambudla (Goa Aces JA Racing)
2. Ntiyiso Mabunda (Speed Demons Delhi)
3. Aris Kyriakou (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru)
F4 India Race 3 results
1. Aaron Mehta (Kolkata Royal Tigers)
2. Ntiyiso Mabunda (Speed Demons Delhi)
3. Luviwe Sambudla (Goa Aces JA Racing)
Stephen Raj Antony
Saptarshi Mondal
