Dynamic performance at the Red Bull Ring!

Georgis Markogiannis made his best performance yet at the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth! The Greek driver even reached Top10 positions and in the end, saw the chequered flag of the third race at the Red Bull Ring twelfth!

The F1 Track hosted the fifth round of the 2021 season, for the racing series where legends are born. There were some spectacular fights and lots of action, while for the 16-year-old, it was his best showing for this season.

After the first race where battles were lost and won, in the second race he showcased his racing spirit. Although he started the race 26th among 32 drivers, Georgis was constantly gaining places. CRAM Motorsport driver’s raise was unfortunately halted after overtaking Leonardo Bizzotto. The BVM Racing miscalculated braking and his front wing sliced the Greek’s tire, sending him in the gravel trap.

This mishap didn’t discourage Markogiannis – on the contrary, it made him even more determined. So, in the third race, he gave the most impressive performance in the six rounds of the Italian F4 Championship that he has participated in so far (two last season and four this season). And all this, in difficult conditions, since the rain that precedes the start of the raised, raised the difficulty levels.

Despite lining-up only 27th on the grid, Georgis read the changing conditions correctly, found traction in the wet and “danced” around the track, gaining positions lap by lap. By lap 12, he was into the Top-10, with the final battles having him finish 12th. The best classification of a Greek driver in the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth… ever!

Italian Formula 4 Powered by Abarth
Round 5, Red Bull Ring

Race 1
Grid: 23, Finish: 24
Race 2
Grid: 26, DNF
Αγώνας 3
Race: 27, Finish: 12

After Red Bull Ring, Georgis shared his thoughts about the race in Austria, plus his next targets!

First race after the summer break, did you find your rhythm easily;
During the summer break, I worked for many hours on the simulator so from the first period of free practice I was able to find rhythm and adapt to the car and the track.

Do you enjoy mixed weather conditions?
The conditions were a big trouble for me and for the team, as well for the most of drivers, given that the rain started just before the third race. With a few exceptions, the majority of the drivers, including me, stayed on slick tyres but we had to make a pit stop during the safety car to change into wet tyres.

Your best result this year came in mixed conditions. Do you prefer them?
As a driver, I especially enjoy driving in the rain, when conditions are constantly changing. It is a challenge for everyone as it tests the limits of each driver, but I personally manage to adjust my driving according to the circumstances. This helped me climb up 15 places during the third race!

Can you improve your starts from the grid?
Starting from the grid is a disadvantage for me, but in every race, I make a steady improvement. The battles of the first lap usually work well for me, so a good start I think that will give me further improvement in the classification of the first laps.

How different was the track from what you remember?
The Red Bull Ring track was already familiar to me, but due to the different types of tyres used in each category, there was a significant loss in traction levels, which required a slight modification on driving and reference points.