Nineteen-year-old French driver Jules Roussel won the first-ever Formula 4 Race – FIA F4 World Cup at the 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP) on the 6.2-km Guia Circuit yesterday, clocking a time of 31:16.409.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Italian Olivieri Emanuele, the godson of three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Rinaldo Capello, finished in second place with a time of 31:17.667.
Twenty-year-old Japanese driver Rintaro Sato, son of 2001 Macau Grand Prix winner and two-time Indy 500 victor Takuma Sato, had to start from 11st position on the grid after a penalty for a procedural infringement cost him third place in the qualification race, ended up coming in third with time of 31:17.847.
Roussel said during yesterday’s post-race press conference that winning a race at the Macau Grand Prix had been one of his dreams, adding that he focused on maintaining his pace throughout the race, and carefully measured the risks when overtaking opponents.
Roussel told reporters after the press conference that he was elated at winning the race, calling it “fantastic”. Roussel added that he was tense from start to finish during the whole race, only relaxing after the final corner. While feeling frustrated at times while battling rivals, Roussel said he focused on maintaining his lead after making successful overtakes.
Regarding next year’s MGP participation, Roussel said that his participation was uncertain, and he hoped to move up to a higher category but definitively would love to race in Macau again.
Emanuele said in the press conference that his race was about maintaining rhythm, keeping confidence, and defending against attacks from behind. After the safety car deployment, his focus shifted primarily to defence, he said.
Starting from 11th on the grid, Sato acknowledged that it was a tough race, but stressed he managed to overtake in advantageous sections, benefitted from a good start while avoiding incidents, and secured a podium finish. Sato underscored the difficulty of overtaking on the Guia Circuit, especially after the Melco Hairpin Bend, and his strategy was to maintain speed, stick close to the car ahead, wait for the opponents’ mistakes, and seek a breakthrough in the advantageous sections.
The 72nd Macau Grand Prix hosted the inaugural Formula 4 Race – FIA F4 World Cup. However, the Macau Grand Prix included the “Formula 4 Chinese Championship” from 2020 to 2022, while the “Formula 4 South East Asia Championship” was held here in 2023.
France’s Jules Roussel (centre), Italy’s Olivieri Emanuele (left) and Japan’s Rintaro Sato pose together during their post-race press conference about the first-ever Formula 4 Race - FIA F4 World Cup at the 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP) press centre yesterday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
French driver Jules Roussel poses with his Formula 4 Race - FIA F4 World Cup trophy on the 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP) podium yesterday. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
