Sztuka wins again as Italian F4 points leader Lindblad crashes out

Photo: ACI Sport

The Italian Formula 4 title fight closed up in race two at Mugello, as Kacper Sztuka won once again and points leader Arvid Lindblad crashed out.

Sztuka’s fifth successive win brings him to within 23 points of Lindblad, whose Prema team-mates Ugo Ugochukwu and James Wharton are also still also in title contention.

Ugochukwu thought about attacking poleman Sztuka on the opening lap, but had settled in behind when the safety car was called out due to Prema’s Aurelia Nobels beaching her car in the gravel.

Racing resumed on lap four and Ugochukwu tried passing Sztuka around the outside of turn one while Van Amersfoort Racing’s Ivan Domingues jumped passed Prema’s Rashid Al Dhaheri and Tuukka Taponen to get into sixth. Wharton meanwhile had offs in two successive laps and ended up in a distant 11th defending against of queue of cars.

Sztuka built a comfortable gap in front of Ugochukwu, and was 3.2 seconds clear when the race was neutralised on lap 12 due to VAR’s Brando Badoer and Lindblad crashing into the barriers exiting turn one. Badoer had tried passing Lindblad for third around the outside, and they ran side-by-side until their front and then rear wheels tangled and it sent them at speed into the barriers.

The order was then frozen to the finish due to the safety car’s return, with Sztuka leading home Ugochukwu, US Racing’s Akshay Bohra, Domingues, Taponen, Al Dhaheri and Freddie Slater. VAR’s debutant Slater got shown the black-and-white flag during the race, while AKM Motorsport’s Diego de la Torre got a drive-through penalty.

US Racing’s Zachary David won out in a lengthy battle with Wharton for what would become ninth place, with Wharton scoring one point to keep his title hopes alive.

Race result (15 laps)