My first weekend in Formula 4 is done here in Dubai. It was a challenging but valuable experience where I learned a lot and improved session after session.

In qualifying, I finished P16. I wasn’t fully satisfied, as I struggled to put the lap together when it mattered most. If I had been able to combine my best sector times, I could have started a few rows higher, but I made some small mistakes that cost me.

Race 1 was all about staying clean and consistent. I managed to finish P16 and focused on keeping a good rhythm without taking unnecessary risks.
In Race 2, I had a good start but was pushed wide in the opening corners and lost several positions. I tried to recover, but with just a couple of laps to go, I made contact with another driver while battling, which damaged my front wing and forced me to retire.

Race 3 was definitely the highlight of the weekend. A couple of hours before the start, we had a technical issue and had to change the engine. The team did an incredible job getting everything ready in such a short time — I’m really thankful for their effort. Despite the last-minute change, I was able to go out and deliver my best race of the weekend. I finished P12 after several battles on track, showing much better pace and staying closer to the group ahead. It was a solid step forward.

Overall, it was a weekend of learning, growth, and steady progress. Of course, there’s still a lot of work to do, and I expect more from myself — but we’re heading in the right direction.

Now it’s time to focus on Round 2, coming up this week in Abu Dhabi. It’s a completely new track for me, and we’ll be racing during the Formula 1 weekend, which makes it even more special. I’m excited and ready to keep building.

Big thanks again to the whole PREMA Team for their incredible support and commitment. Let’s keep pushing.

— Beco Bernoldi