Maltese driver Jacob Micallef endured a dramatic weekend at Portimão but still emerged with his strongest Formula 4 result to date after recovering from setbacks to finish fourth in Race 2.
The 16-year-old Campos Racing rookie made headlines by claiming his maiden Formula 4 pole position, edging the competition by mere milliseconds in qualifying and underlining his growing potential on the international stage.
However, Race 1 proved far more challenging. Micallef’s hopes were disrupted by a puncture and front-wing damage, forcing him into recovery mode before eventually salvaging ninth place.
He bounced back impressively in the second race of the weekend. Starting from 10th on the grid, the Maltese youngster produced a composed and aggressive drive through the field, overtaking several rivals — including decisive moves on the final lap — to secure a season-best fourth-place finish.
The result marks another important step forward in Micallef’s development during his debut Formula 4 campaign, with the teenager continuing to gain valuable experience against strong international competition.
