Taponen soaks up Lindblad pressure for first Italian F4 win

Photo: ACI Sport

Tuukka Taponen resisted sustained pressure from Prema team-mate Arvid Lindblad to clinch his first Italian Formula 4 win in race one at Misano.

Ferrari junior Taponen scored just four points in a complicated series debut at Imola last month, but held onto pole position at the start of the race and ended the first lap almost one second clear as Lindblad defended from James Wharton. Behind, Ugo Ugochukwu got the jump on Brando Badoer for fourth.

Lindblad closed back up before the safety car was required on lap three after a high-speed roll for Tina Hausmann following contact. Hausmann was able to walk away from the wreckage, which was quickly cleared in time for a restart on lap five.

The restart played out similarly to the first lap, with Taponen again given some brief breathing space as Lindblad went defensive on Wharton. Ugochukwu in turn took a look at Wharton, but found himself repassed around the outside of the final corner by Badoer, and then by Kacper Sztuka.

Lindblad again quickly closed back up on Taponen but could not find a way past, the Red Bull junior finishing 0.413 seconds adrift as he nonetheless strengthened his championship lead to 23 points.

Wharton dropped back in the final laps, almost into the clutches of Sztuka, who found a way by Badoer for fourth.

Rashid Al Dhaheri finished on the tail of Prema team-mate Ugochukwu at the rear of what was a seven-car train for most of the race.

Niko Lacorte was a lonely eighth, while Gianmarco Pradel won a late duel with Valentin Kluss for ninth.

Ivan Domingues fought back to 11th after losing his front wing in a first-lap skirmish that eliminated Zachary David.

Race result (19 laps)