From Sweden to Italy, passing through Hungary, it was an intense weekend for our drivers, competing in various national and international categories and championships. Between unexpected debuts, well-deserved podiums, determined comebacks, and some unfortunate incidents, every competitor gave their best on track, gaining valuable kilometers, experience, and in many cases, significant results.

From karting competitions such as the WSK Euro Series and the Champions of the Future Academy Program to single-seater and GT championships, the performances of our drivers confirm the quality and constant growth of a team determined to improve race after race.

Zack Zhu – P14 – WSK Euro Series, Cremona (Italy), OKNJ Category
The first to take to the track over the weekend, Zack Zhu participated in the WSK Euro Series round at the Cremona circuit. For the young French driver, it was a weekend of learning and adaptation, made more challenging by limited testing opportunities in Italy due to previous commitments on French national tracks.
Despite the initial difficulties, Zack approached the weekend with determination, using every session to gather useful data for the upcoming race on the same circuit, valid for the Italian Championship. The race concluded with a 14th-place finish, a result that, while not fully reflecting his potential, marked an important step forward in preparation and awareness. The past weekend proved to be a valuable testing ground for Zack, who will now face the next round with greater confidence and competitiveness, aiming for a significant result.

Jason Kosmopoulos – Champions Of The Future Academy Program, Jesolo (Italy), OKNJ Category
RACE 1: P27/DNF
RACE 2: P16

The first of seven drivers in the Jesolo round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program, Jason Kosmopoulos, faced a particularly challenging weekend, affected by a chassis change that required significant adaptation work. The pursuit of the correct vehicle setup and the need to replace several components slowed the young driver’s progress, preventing him from fully demonstrating his potential in terms of final results.
Nevertheless, Jason responded with determination, showing speed and resilience in every phase of the weekend. His adaptability and the positive signs on track give hope for the upcoming events of the season. The path he’s on is the right one: with more technical stability and the support of the team, Kosmopoulos will soon be targeting top positions.

Benjamin Westwood – Champions Of The Future Academy Program, Jesolo (Italy), OKNJ Category
RACE 1: P5
RACE 2: P15

The second driver on track in the Jesolo round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program, Benjamin Westwood, had a positive weekend in terms of performance, although a bit unlucky with a bumper penalty that affected his final result in Race 2.Benji started strongly, demonstrating great speed and securing an impressive second-place qualification. Throughout the weekend, he maintained consistency and competitiveness, staying in the top positions. Race 1 saw him finish in fifth place, maintaining his speed throughout. In Race 2, however, some unfavorable incidents dropped him to 15th place, from the seventh he held when crossing the finish line.
Despite the result, the weekend was a clear confirmation of Benjamin’s potential, both technically and mentally. The approach shown—pragmatic, mature, and combative—sets the foundation for achieving important results. Now the focus shifts to the next Italian Championship round in Cremona, where Benji can capitalize on this boost of confidence and aim for a notable result.

Julia Angelard – Champions Of The Future Academy Program, Jesolo (Italy), OKNJ Category
RACE 1: P12
RACE 2: P2

An unforgettable weekend for Julia Angelard, who finally reaped the rewards of the work and consistency she has shown since the start of the season at the Jesolo circuit. The young Polish driver was a key figure right from Saturday, showcasing great competitiveness, solidity, and speed in every session, earning 12th place in Race 1 due to a contact that relegated her from second to 12th. Always among the fastest and never in trouble, Julia constructed a result that had eluded her for too long, securing second place in Race 2 after a flawless performance, moving up from excellent results in all qualifying sessions.
Julia’s growth trajectory is bearing fruit, and the podium she earned in Jesolo is confirmation of her ever-developing talent. The goal now is to continue on this path, aiming to consolidate her place at the top. The next event in the ROK Cup Italy will be an important opportunity for her to confirm her performance and keep collecting podiums and why not, aim for victory.

Vanesa Silkunaite – Champions Of The Future Academy Program, Jesolo (Italy), OKNJ Category
RACE 1: P12/P11
RACE 2: DNS

A tough weekend for Vanesa, competing in the Jesolo round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program. The young driver faced numerous difficulties that prevented her from competing regularly at the front, but she showed important signs of grit and ability to fight back, particularly in Race 1, which ended with her in 11th position. On Sunday, during one of the heats, where she was recovering with great determination, Vanesa was involved in a violent accident. Fortunately, the incident did not result in physical harm, but as a precaution, it was decided she would not participate in the final.
Until then, Vanesa had demonstrated great character, reacting to challenges with courage and a fighting spirit. While the incident is hard to accept, it serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of safety and clarity in sports, especially in a complex and risky discipline like motorsport. Now, it will be essential to recover physically and mentally, with the aim of returning to the track soon with the desire to fight and reclaim the results she deserves.

Nefeli Kosmopoulos – Champions Of The Future Academy Program, Jesolo (Italy), OKNJ Category
RACE 1: P26/DNF
RACE 2: P26

Nefeli Kosmopoulos also participated in the Jesolo round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program. For the young driver, it was a particularly challenging weekend, affected by limited track time earlier in the season. Despite the difficulties, Nefeli faced each session with great determination, never holding back and fighting until the end. Race 1 was quite complex, and unfortunately, she was forced to retire. She finished Race 2 in 26th place, but what stands out is the positive spirit with which she approached the entire weekend.
The will and attitude shown at Jesolo are promising signs. With the summer break ahead, it will be crucial for Nefeli to accumulate more kilometers and experience, so that she can return to the next event in September, ready and more competitive than ever.

Markas Silkunas – Champions Of The Future Academy Program, Jesolo (Italy), OKNS Category
RACE 1: P3
RACE 2: P7

The last of our drivers to take to the track in the Jesolo round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program, Markas Silkunas had a slightly more complex weekend compared to previous ones but still earned another important podium. Despite some difficulties, the young Lithuanian driver managed the situation with maturity, finishing Race 1 in third place and Race 2 in seventh, securing valuable points for the championship.
Markas’s determination never faltered, and his ability to secure a solid result even under non-ideal conditions confirms his steady growth. Now, attention shifts to the next event at the Slovakia Ring, a track where Markas has previously raced and where he will aim to return to the front and fight for victory.

Maya Weug – FRECA, Hungaroring (Budapest, Hungary)
RACE 1: P22
RACE 2: P29/ DNF

A last-minute call saw Maya step in at the Hungaroring to replace an injured driver in the Formula Regional Championship. A challenging yet unexpected opportunity, which the young Dutch driver faced with great determination despite the lack of preparation and limited time to adapt to a car she hadn’t driven for some time.
The weekend was tough in many aspects, but Maya never gave up, tackling every session with courage and teamwork, working closely with the team to adapt as quickly as possible.
Beyond the result, Maya gained valuable kilometers, crucial for her growth and experience. The focus now shifts back to the F1 Academy, where the young driver will aim to give her best at the upcoming Zandvoort event at the end of August, with the goal of scoring valuable points and staying firmly in the running for the World Championship.

Deven Grabko – Aquila Formula 1000 Championship, Ring Knutsrop (Sweden)
RACE 1: P9
RACE 2: P9
RACE 3: P11

Deven Grabko’s progress continues positively in the Swedish Aquila Formula 1000 Championship. At the technical Ring Knutstorp circuit, the young driver secured two top-10 finishes, confirming the consistent progress made in recent outings. Grabko is approaching the championship with great seriousness and determination. The intense work on the simulator and consistent efforts on track are paying off, and Deven continues to grow race by race, never holding back.

The short-term goal is now to move decisively into the top five, aiming for even more ambitious results as the season progresses. The path is right, and the potential is there: Deven is ready to continue his climb.

Manuel Quandamcarlo – FX GT4 Italy, Monza (Italy)
RACE 1: P7/P1 Class
RACE 2: P4/P1 Class

An extraordinary weekend for Manuel Quandamcarlo and his team in the FX GT4 Italy Championship at the legendary Monza circuit. With two flawless races, conducted without errors and with exceptional pace, Manuel secured a stunning double class victory, along with excellent overall placements.
The young driver displayed speed, clarity, and maximum precision throughout the weekend, confirming his driving skills and great synergy with the team. A result that takes on even greater significance considering the personal challenges Manuel has been facing away from the track. The hope is that these successes will serve as a positive boost both inside and outside the paddock. We wish Manuel the very best: he deserves this, and we are sure he will continue on this path with determination and talent.

Author: Gabriele Bovio

In a chaotic Grand Prix filled with Safety Cars, crashes, and strategic mistakes, McLaren still stood out. Norris claimed victory at the British Grand Prix, ahead of his teammate, benefiting from a penalty for excessively slowing under the Safety Car period. Nico Hulkenberg secured his first-ever podium finish in his Sauber, starting from 19th place. It was a disastrous weekend for Mercedes, with Antonelli taken out due to a collision with Hadjar, and an incorrect strategy with Russel. Ferrari had an unremarkable Leclerc, joined by a submissive Hamilton trailing behind the Sauber. Aston Martin took home double points. Pierre Gasly made a strong return, with his teammate once again crashing in qualifying and retiring on Sunday.

Giovanni’s Comment
The rain reignited some excitement, forcing teams into errors and shaking up the balance of power, making the race more engaging. We should ask ourselves whether we have to rely on weather conditions to hope for an active race. It seems the direction taken by F1 might not be the right one.

Another perfect weekend and another McLaren double. The only downside was Piastri’s mistake, allowing Norris to gain even more points. The papaya car was incredibly fast, even in the rain, and increasingly dominant. However, another driver took the spotlight: Nico Hulkenberg. Many positions gained, partly thanks to a great strategy, and his first podium achieved. The German did a fantastic job holding off Hamilton in the final laps. A pity for Bortoleto, who lacked some experience in the rain, but Binotto’s work is starting to show.

Red Bull still only has one car. The driver alongside Verstappen continues to be missing, whoever they may be. Even Verstappen is struggling with the car, a sign of a difficult and unpredictable machine. The rain didn’t help him, negating his excellent pole position from Saturday. Ferrari raised hopes on Friday but disappointed for the rest of the weekend. The prancing horse struggled from Q3 on Saturday, relying on Hamilton to salvage what could be salvaged, with Leclerc MIA.

Aston Martin is beginning to show more competitiveness both in qualifying and in the race. Stroll narrowly missed the podium and, after several races, finished ahead of his teammate. Newey’s directives seem to be working and foreshadow an important car for 2026. Another team on the rise is Williams. Albon was solid, earning more points, while Sainz still needs improvement.

Alpine saw a recovering Gasly with new points, while his teammate, Colapinto, was lost. The Argentine retired early in the Sunday race, forcing the team to fight again with just one car. At this rate, the French team will pay the price of fighting for the constructors’ championship with only one car.

Racing Bull had a weekend to forget with a double retirement. Hadjar went off after hitting Antonelli, while Lawson was taken out by Ocon after a great weekend in Austria. More points lost for the Faenza team, which could cost them dearly at the end of the season.

Finally, Mercedes. The Silver Arrows were the team that caused the most chaos. Poor qualifying, disappointing race. The team couldn’t settle on the right strategy, first ruining Russel’s race, then changing Antonelli’s tires again.

Author: Gabriele Bovio

• The fifth round of the ROK Cup Italia was not too kind to the 13-year-old JSTR by The coming weekend for Julia Angelard will once again be marked by competition on the Italian karting track.
• The 13-year-old JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing rider will be appearing on the Pista Azzurra track in Jesolo, near Venice, for the second time this year.
• This time, the stakes are to be the fastest player in the third round of the Champions of the Future Academy this season.

After a break of over two months, the competitors competing in this year’s Champions of the Future Academy are back in action. After the April round in Valencia, it’s time for the third part of the competition, this time on Italian soil. The facility where they will compete against time and each other is the Pista Azzurra track located near Valencia, in Jesolo, where Julia Angelard already had the opportunity to compete this year during the fourth round of the ROK Cup Italia.

Maintain the pace from the May round

Although Julia Angelard has a different chassis and engine during the Champions of the Future Academy series race weekends than she did in the Italian ROK round in May, the Minardi Management protégé is optimistic about the upcoming competition. According to the series regulations, all competitors have the same equipment, drawing lots for engines and frames to even the odds between them even more.

Knowing the track and having fond memories of a good result during the final run two months ago may allow the Polish competitor to enter the track much more efficiently, to start fighting for the fastest times and the best position in qualifications as soon as possible. The format of the COTFA series, which includes a completely new hand – separate qualifications, heats and final – on Saturday and Sunday allows for adjustments to be made in the settings and a fresh approach to the competition each day, which makes it easier to achieve better results throughout the entire race weekend.

Julia Angelard: Third time’s a charm

“The two previous rounds of the Champions of the Future Academy didn’t go as I had hoped. I’m looking forward to visiting the Jesolo track, especially since I was in the top ten in the ROK Cup Italia final on that track. I hope that third time’s a charm and this time I’ll be lucky in COTFA. Everyone starts with the same engines and frames, so everything depends on the driver. Especially since the Jesolo track has few places to overtake, so the position in the time trial is very important. We have equal chances and I hope that in a fair fight I’ll be able to show that I’m ready for this challenge,” emphasizes the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing competitor.

Julia’s Jesolo Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, 04/07/2025
09:50 – Run in (15 min)
11:10 – Free Practice 1 (12 min)
12:40 – Free Practice 2 (12 min)
14:40 – Free Practice 3 (12 min)
16:10 – Free Practice 4 (12 min)

Saturday, 05.07.2025
09:00 – Non Qualifying Practice (10 min)
10:05 – Time Qualifying (6 min)
11:20 – Qualifying Heat 1 (10 laps)
13:00 – Qualifying Heat 2 (10 laps)
15:00 – Final (21 laps)

Sunday, 06.07.2025
09:00 – Non Qualifying Practice (10 min)
10:05 – Time Qualifying (6 min)
11:20 – Qualifying Heat 1 (10 laps)
13:00 – Qualifying Heat 2 (10 laps)
15:00 – Final (21 laps).

Norris triumphs in Austria, finishing ahead of his teammate. Leclerc secures a podium, despite a twenty-second gap from the two papaya cars. Verstappen is out on the first lap due to an error by Antonelli, who crashes into him at Turn 2. With this double retirement, along with a double DNF for Williams due to technical issues, several teams capitalized on the opportunity to score points. Bortoleto, thanks to an excellent qualifying session the day before, Lawson, and Alonso all benefitted. Red Bull’s weekend ends in disaster, with Tsunoda again out of the points and also penalized.

GIOVANNI’S COMMENTARY
Another Grand Prix that didn’t offer much excitement, apart from the early duel between the two papaya cars and the Verstappen–Antonelli crash. Over seventy laps, the spectacle and entertainment weren’t particularly high.

McLaren were flawless. Norris didn’t put a foot wrong. His teammate was just as solid, if not for a missed second place in qualifying due to a yellow flag during his flying lap. The Papaya team remains a step ahead of everyone and has once again proven to be the team to beat. Ferrari showed signs of improvement with a third and fourth place finish. The Maranello squad proved to be the second force in Austria after several difficult races.

Mercedes were missing in action. The Silver Arrows failed to deliver both in qualifying and the race. Russell finished behind the Ferraris, and Antonelli was out at the start due to an error that will cost him three grid positions at Silverstone. Despite being on home turf, Red Bull had their worst weekend of the season. Max was out at the start, and he likely would have struggled just as much as in qualifying. Tsunoda was, once again, nowhere to be found.

Racing Bulls finally saw a great performance from Lawson. Hadjar, slightly off in qualifying, recovered well during the race. Aston Martin scored more points thanks to the lion of Oviedo, Fernando Alonso. Stroll was nowhere to be seen. Double points for Sauber, continuing their impressive growth. Bortoleto scored his first points in F1, finally showing his worth both in qualifying and the race.

Alpine started strong on Saturday but faded during the race. Colapinto was once again underwhelming, stuck in the midfield. Gasly couldn’t make a difference, heavily limited by the car. Haas took home a point with Ocon. His teammate, Bearman, came close to the points but fell just short.

Finally, a disastrous race for Williams with a double retirement. Sainz didn’t start due to a brake issue. Albon was also forced to retire because of a technical problem that ended his race early.

Author: Gabriele Bovio