Luviwe Sambudla takes championship lead after winning two races at F4 India Round 3

Luviwe Sambudla has taken the overall lead in the 2026 F4 Indian Championship after securing two race wins during Round 3 at the Madras International Circuit. Fifteen-year-old Aaron Mehta also claimed a historic victory for the Kolkata Royal Tigers, becoming the youngest-ever race winner in the championship.

Race 1 And 2 Results

In the first race, Sambudla moved from sixth place to second under mixed track conditions. Race leader Aris Kyriakou lost rear grip on Lap 9, allowing Sambudla to take the lead and win by 9.606 seconds while also setting the fastest lap. Ntiyiso Mabunda of Speed Demons Delhi drove from tenth to second place, and Aryan Narola of Goa Aces JA Racing finished third. Sambudla repeated his success in Race 2 by starting sixth on the reverse grid and holding off constant pressure from Mabunda to win by 1.211 seconds, with Kyriakou taking third place.

Race 3 And Standings

Race 3 featured pole-sitter Aaron Mehta holding his nerve through slippery track conditions, a red flag stoppage, and a Safety Car phase to fend off Mabunda by just 0.546 seconds, while Sambudla finished third to claim a podium finish in all three races. Before Round 3, Kyriakou led the championship standings with Sambudla five points behind him, but Sambudla now holds a 21-point lead in the title battle.

Context

Motorsport championships involve multiple rounds across different tracks where drivers accumulate points based on their race finishes. Young driver development programs in series like Formula 4 help build skills in wet and mixed weather conditions.