The second round of the Italian Formula 4 Championship at Vallelunga was a positive weekend in terms of work, pace and growth together with Trident.

After my debut in Misano, this round was important to keep building confidence with the car, consolidate the work done with the team and take another step forward in my journey in this category. The level of the championship remains extremely high, with 56 drivers entered, and every session is fundamental to learn, improve and gain experience.

In qualifying, I finished P15 in my group, a result that gave us a base to work from ahead of the races. In such a competitive championship, with so many drivers and very close gaps, every detail can make the difference.

In Race 1, I started from fifteenth position and finished in P20. It was not the result I was hoping for, but this race also allowed me to collect important kilometres and continue working on the pace.

Race 2 was probably the most positive one of the weekend. I started thirteenth, but at the start I made a mistake and stalled, losing some positions in the first metres. From there I had to rebuild the race, recover and stay focused. I managed to climb back up to P15, battling on track and showing a good rhythm. Beyond the mistake at the start, it was a useful and positive race, from which I take away important feelings.

In the Final, reserved for the best 36 drivers out of the 56 entered, I started from P29 and finished in P23, recovering several positions. This was also an important race: I was able to fight, manage some situations well and continue building experience among a very competitive group.

I leave Vallelunga with the awareness that there is still a lot of work to do, but also with positive signs. The pace is improving, the feeling with the car is growing and the work with the team is going in the right direction. For me, being in my first year in Formula 4, every weekend is an opportunity to learn and take a step forward.

Now the focus is already on next week’s tests in Monza, a special and very important track, where we will then return for the third round of the championship on the weekend of 21 June. We will keep working with determination, trying to arrive even more prepared and to confirm the progress made.

Beco Bernoldi