The big moment has arrived: 16-year-old Hungarian driver Martin Molnár will make his debut at a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend as he lines up on the grid in Formula 4, one of the support series at this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Currently second in the British F4 standings, Molnár is aiming high—with victory in his sights on motorsport’s biggest stage—while also looking to soak in the atmosphere of this historic weekend.
Never before have all three FIA-sanctioned junior single-seater categories—Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula 4—shared the billing as official support races to a Formula 1 event. That changes this weekend at Silverstone, making it a landmark occasion in the development ladder to F1. Among the competitors will be Virtuosi Racing’s Martin Molnár, who has already made history this year as the first Hungarian driver to take a pole position and win in the British F4 Championship.
Although the F4 field this weekend will primarily consist of regular entries from the British F4 Championship, several guest drivers have also been added to the entry list, resulting in a larger and even more competitive grid. Twenty regular drivers from the championship will be competing, including the entire top 12 in the standings, ensuring a high level of racing.
“It goes without saying that this is a real milestone moment for everyone that is involved with the F4 British Championship certified by FIA” said Eve Lake-Grange, Series Manager of British F4, speaking to Autosport. “To have the opportunity to compete on the support bill of Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix is something that we’ve been working towards for a long time, so we are delighted to have been able to now make it happen. We pride ourselves on being the first step on the pathway to Formula 1 and for our drivers to be able to see the potential career roadmap that is ahead of them – on the same weekend that they are competing – will be both special and inspiring.”
Martin’s participation, however, was not guaranteed. “Since this is a Formula 1 weekend, the associated costs are significantly higher than a regular F4 round,” explained Tamás Őry, Managing Director of Motorsport Talent Management (MOTAM), the agency that has supported Martin’s career since 2021. “We first had to convince our title sponsor, One Magyarország Zrt., to support us in seizing this unique opportunity. We’re incredibly grateful for their backing. An F1 weekend draws massive attention from spectators and media alike, giving young drivers a platform to truly showcase their talent. A standout result could easily catch the eye of someone important. While we view this weekend as a celebration, we’re quietly hopeful that Martin can maintain his strong form and fight for victory.”
“This should be a weekend where Martin just enjoys racing, without worrying about points or championship pressure,” added Tamás Pál Kiss, Sporting Director at MOTAM. “Every additional kilometer in the car helps his development. Missing a weekend like this would put him at a disadvantage compared to his main rivals.”
This will be Martin’s second visit to Silverstone this season. The British F4 championship already held its second round at the iconic track earlier in the year, using the same Grand Prix layout as Formula 1. Martin showed strong pace then, qualifying third and converting that into P3 and P2 finishes, along with the fastest lap in the final race.
“We left Oulton Park last weekend telling ourselves that this race doesn’t count toward the championship, so let’s just go out there and enjoy it,” said Martin. “The aim is to make the most of the opportunity and take in every moment of being part of a Formula 1 weekend.”
The race format will differ slightly from usual: instead of two free practice sessions, drivers will only get one, and the weekend will feature two slightly longer races, each lasting 25 minutes, instead of the usual three.
Due to a breakdown in negotiations between MOTAM and the Hungarian rights holder of Formula 1 weekend broadcasts, Martin’s races will only be available to Hungarian TV viewers via a Sky Sports subscription. However, as usual, fans will still be able to follow the action online through the official British F4 YouTube channel. Additionally, F1 TV subscribers will also have access to the full coverage — including free practice, qualifying, and both races.
The results from the weekend will be available HERE.
The F4 schedule of the Silverstone F1 weekend (times are in local time, which is GMT+1):
Friday
17.45 – 18.30: Free practice
Saturday
08.10 – 08.35: Qualifying
17.00 – 17.25: Race 1
Sunday
08.20 – 08.45: Race 2