The second round of the F4 Trophy took place in a truly unique atmosphere, as we raced during the same weekend as the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. It was an incredible experience to be part of such a special event, with a big crowd and an intense vibe both on and off the track.

At the same time, racing alongside Formula 1 also means less space and tighter schedules for the support categories. This meant we only had one free practice session, one qualifying session, and two races instead of three, compared to a regular race weekend.

It was my first time on this track — I had never seen or driven it before. Unfortunately, in qualifying I made a mistake on my second lap, went off track, and had to stop the session early. I wasn’t able to set a valid lap time, which meant I had to start from the back of the grid in both races.

In Race 1, I struggled to find the right feeling with the car, and my pace wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I finished P22, using the race mainly to learn the circuit and find some rhythm.

In Race 2, I approached things with more confidence, making the most of the experience gained in Race 1. The pace was much better, I fought through the field with some good overtakes and finished P18, with a much more positive overall feeling.

Despite the difficult start, I take home a valuable learning experience. I know we can do better, and now that I know the track, I’m fully motivated for next weekend’s third round, again here in Abu Dhabi. The goal is to build a cleaner weekend, avoid mistakes, and turn everything I’ve learned into real progress.

Big thanks to the team for their hard work and constant support.
See you back on track.

— Beco Bernoldi