18-year-old driver Rowan Campbell-Pilling is currently racing in the 2025 Formula 4 (F4) UAE Trophy Series, certified by the FIA, with Xcel Motorsport.
Last weekend, Rowan headed to Yas Marina for the F1 weekend in Abu Dhabi, as the 2025 Formula 4 UAE Trophy Series continued.
Rowan said: “Racing on the Formula 1 schedule is always special but especially when it is the final showdown for the World Championship between three great drivers: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.”
The Yas Marina Circuit is an impressive track but due to the schedule being jam-packed with F1 proceedings, F4 testing was kept to only one 45-minute session. This gave Rowan a maximum of 20 laps in total to learn, let alone practice, the very long, fast-flowing medium-to-high speed track.
However, having prepared in the simulator with his team, Rowan was close to the top of the timesheets straight out of the pits and, in qualifying, secured a p4. This was a great position especially against an extended grid of 28 drivers from across the world.
Whilst the races didn’t end as expected due to other crashes and safety cars, Rowan still regularly ran at the front and achieved more points towards the series. This also saw him race on the F1 schedule for a second time this year.
“After Silverstone earlier in the year, it’s a fantastic achievement to be in the Middle East racing on the F1 schedule,” Rowan added. “This is exactly where I want my career to go and I can only thank everyone – family, friends and our valued partners – for all your amazing support as I progress in motorsport and continue flying the flag for Sheffield.”
As the last race weekend of the series approaches, Rowan will return to the Yas Marina Circuit again but this time on the Lenovo Gulf 12-hour GT Endurance weekend.
Photo by UAE F4 Trophy Series