Under the new system, it was Mick Schumacher who won the first Italian Formula 4 qualifying race of the weekend after the Prema Powerteam driver secured pole for race two yesterday. The German quickly took the advantage and controlled the gaps around him along the Misano circuit, to claim victory by 2.3 seconds.
As part of Italian F4’s new format, all of the drivers were split into three groups, collecting qualifying points which would be added together over their two races. The fastest drivers will be put into a final with their points deciding the grid for the final showdown of the weekend. The format has been introduced this year as a way to give drivers the most amount of time on track without stopping the slowest from racing.
Behind the unflappable Schumacher was DR Formula‘s Raul Guzman, who also set the fastest lap. The Mexican picked up one podium last year and a strong result puts him firmly in the line-light as he looks to mount a serious title challenge.
He didn’t go without pressure though as it proved to be a Prema dominated race, with Schumacher’s rookie team-mate Juan Manuel Correa taking the final position on the podium, under a second behind the Mexican. Meanwhile, the final Prema of Juri Vips finished seventh.
There will will talking points for the drivers in fourth and fifth as the experienced Simone Cunati and Argentine Marcos Siebert were unable to challenge the top three in the closing stages. Seibert, who started on pole before falling back, goes into the season as the highest placed returning driver and as a result will be expected to take the fight to the leaders.