Italian F4
Monza, R1
Every year, we lament the fact that entry-level junior single-seater championships don’t get as much exposure as their counterparts up the ladder, despite often surpassing them in terms of racing quality. And 2014 was no different.
Indeed, there were some fantastic events featuring car racing newcomers this year. In French F4, Joseph Mawson charged to an inspired second victory at Le Mans as he passed people around the outside in the rain. The traditionally breathtaking ADAC Formel Masters was given a phenomenal sent off with thrillers at Spielberg and the Slovakia Ring. Formula Ford GB, another series on its way out, put on a crazy race of attrition at Donington.
And, yet, this nomination goes out to the most exuberant and unpredictable one of them all ? Italian F4’s sublime Monza opener.
Yes, the title race was done and dusted the weekend before, with Lance Stroll emerging as a deserved champion. But Monza’s a special occasion regardless and it was clearly approached as such by the drivers.
In qualifying, Mattia Drudi was the first driver to deny Prema pole all-season, but the dominant squad would run first and second one lap into the race as Drudi slipped down to fifth.
Immediately, the action was suspended when Robert Schwartzman and Takashi Kasai crashed, tagging an unfortunate Leo Pulcini into a recovery truck. Thankfully, he was unhurt and those kinds of accident is something we’d very much like to see less of in 2015.
After the restart, Stroll pounced on teammate Brandon Maisano to steal the lead. The Prema duo continued to battle and were joined by Andrea Russo, who picked off Maisano when he ran over the kerbs trying to retake the lead.
He then passed Stroll, albeit subsequently straight-lining a chicane and coming under pressure. At that point, Stroll, Drudi, BRDC F4 regular Sennan Fielding and Maisano were all within a second of the lead.
Finally, when fighting for the lead, Russo and Stroll collided into Variante del Rettifilo on the penultimate lap, both letting Drudi through. And, having started on pole, falling down to fifth and then battling his way back, Drudi took the checkered flag.
Russo finished second, but a penalty demoted him to fifth, with Fielding, Maisano and Stroll moving up in the timesheets. In the end, the top eight was separated by 3.5s.
The win was a big lift for Drudi, who bossed the other two races to secure the first hat-trick in Italian F4 history.
Valentin Khorounzhiy