Gian Carlo Minardi "Exciting season for Formula 4. Ending with F.3 European is amazing”

At the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in Immolate the curtain goes down over the first season of Formula 4, achieving resounding success thanks to a constant participation of 20 cars in the seven rounds – from Adria to Imola – that have enlivened the calendar with 28 drivers in all at the wheel of Tatuus T014, coming from 14 countries and 4 different continents. “The season of the Tricolored F.4 is a positive sign. We had an absolute leader with Stroll, who was awarded of important points right from the early appointments, demonstrating a highly professional approach for this innovative formula“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “The opponents, however, are not missed, thanks to our young Drudi – Russo – Pulcini, covering the role of the first actors in particular in the last rounds“.

The thoughts have already turned to next season, when also other Nations will bring to the track the F.4 Championship. “On this drive, we have to work to form the generational change, both in view of the next step (F.3 European) and for this preparatory formula itself. We has been the first to believe in this new reality, bringing it on track and the results have proved us right. With the arrival of other championships, it won’t be be easy to keep the lead, but with the help of WSK and all the staff of ACI-Sport will ride this success. As ACI, this championship has been our flagship“, the manager from Faenza comments.

The public response has been interesting, thanks to races full of overtakings and to the “Paddock Free” initiative, implemented by Italian Federation. “The audience gave a strong signal, wanting to get closer to the preparatory formulas for an introduction to the champions of tomorrow. We want to bring the fans back to the racetrack, to let them experience the racing weekend as a country outing with the whole family“.

The focus is racing program. At Imola, the young F.4 drivers have shared track and paddock with the Italian GT and European Formula 3, in order to pass the baton with two formulas, that are placed on the central axis of International Car Racing. “The spectacular nature of races plays certainly a crucial role in getting closer. The home-races of the Italian GT, which has seen a grid of nearly 24 cars per event, will end only with the last race in Monza with 3-4 teams still fighting for the title. Then, we had first contact with the “elder sister” European F.3 that, only in the last manche won by Max Verstappen, consecrated the Prema driver Esteban Ocon with our standard bearer Antonio Fuoco and AntonioGiovinazzi to complete the podium. For our F.4 rookie-drivers, this has been the opportunity to see first-hand the natural continuation of their career“.

A European F.3 that has returned to its past glories and benchmark for Circus’ Team Principals. Max Verstappen will make the leap to the top serie already next year, wearing the colors of Scuderia Toro Rosso, while Ocon will be at the wheel of Ferrari at Fiorano and of Lotus E20 at Jerez. “It seems to me to go back to the ’80s, when the hierarchy was formed by F3-F2-F1. At Imola we had a grid composed of 28 Dallata F3, even with 14 cars in 9 tenths. Thanks to Gerhard Berger and to FIA, this championship is finding again the glories of the past, acting as a real springboard, more than other categories“. On the agenda, there’s already the creation of a new intermediate category between F3 and F1. “In International Federation thoughts there’s a new Formula 2, which could reopen the scenarios that have written the history of Car Racing“, Minardi analyzes.