Round three of a so far extremely positive Italian Formula 4 campaign is set to go back underway this weekend at Monza for PREMA Racing, and lining up with a solid lead in all classes, the team is aiming to keep the momentum at the Temple of Speed.
The PREMA Racing field for Monza will feature five drivers, three of them rookies. The team has secured all but one win so far with the experienced duo of Kean Nakamura-Berta and Sebastian Wheldon, who are locked in a high-profile battle for the lead of the series. The Japanese-Slovakian won five times, but the American has proven consistent and also delivered two wins and two additional podiums to hold P2 in points.
The rookie standings also delivered great satisfaction. Colombian Salim Hanna posted five class wins and three overall podiums and is now leading the secondary standings. Newman Chi and Oleksandr Bondarev are trailing not far behind, with the Ukranian, who had the chance to race at Monza in the 2024 finale, also able to snatch one rookie win this year.
As always, the fast Monza layout will provide the chance for drivers to learn key skills in managing track positioning, slipstreaming, and high-speed traffic, and the game will be on in qualifying and in the races. For this round, the three-race format makes its return, as the Italian Grand Prix venue can accommodate a large field of 40 cars. Weather is expected to be hot, with up to 34 degrees C expected, which will add to the challenge.
Angelo Rosin - Team Founder
"Formula 4 at Monza is a classic. The racing there is very intense and exciting for the drivers, while also being a perfect learning experience. We are looking to keep the same pace and momentum we had in the first two rounds. So far, all our drivers performed extremely well and we need to keep pushing to make even more progress across the board."