FWS: Zoe Florescu shines on F4 debut, shares female trophy wins with Mathilda Paatz at Portimao
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Single seater rookie Zoe Florescu Potolea enjoyed a remarkable first Formula 4 weekend, claiming two Female Trophy victories and consistently fighting for the overall top 20 at the Formula Winter Series' second round in Portimao, sharing class wins with Mathilda Paatz.
The second round of the Formula Winter Series at Portimão, in demanding rain conditions that affected both race days, saw five female drivers took part once again, including several highlight debuts, with Romanian rookie Zoe Florescu Potolea delivering a remarkable first Formula 4 weekend, claiming two Female Trophy victories and consistently fighting inside the overall top 20.
Joining Florescu on debut was Ella Stevens, another highly anticipated karting graduate, also making her first start in single seaters ahead of her F1 Academy debut. Mathilda Paatz and Ginevra Panzeri returned for their second event of the campaign. Chiara Bättig was also back in action after securing her first Formula 4 podium on her European debut at Estoril. Florescu arrived with strong credentials, supported by the More Than Equal programme and as a former Girls on Track - Rising Stars junior winner.
Despite heavy rain across the race weekend, drivers benefited from some dry running during pre-event collective testing. Florescu immediately showed strong adaptation to the Formula 4 machinery, finishing inside the overall top 20 and topping the female entries in both the first and second test sessions.
Battig at the same time continued to build momentum, setting a competitive 1:48.1 lap in the third session. As rain arrived, Stevens made a significant step forward, climbing to P17 and enjoying an excellent fifth session in P13 overall. The McLaren-backed driver ended testing with another solid run in P16 during the final practice.
Qualifying on Saturday morning took place in fully wet conditions, continuing a run of rain-affected events in Portugal for Formula Winter Series over the last few weeks.
In Qualifying 1, Stevens set an early benchmark among the female drivers with a 2:08.5 lap, placing her inside the top 20 overall. Florescu followed closely, with Bättig, Paatz and Panzeri all steadily improving.
As lap times began to drop across the field, the session was red-flagged with under two minutes remaining when Levi Arn stopped at Turn 10, resulting in his best lap being deleted. The session was not resumed. Stevens therefore emerged as the top female driver in P20, with Florescu P24 on a 2:08.810. Bättig finished P30 (2:09.419), ahead of Paatz in P31 and Panzeri in P33.
Qualifying 2 saw further significant improvements from Florescu, who immediately posted a 2:08.7 to place herself briefly inside the top 15. As the track evolved, Stevens responded with a 2:08.5, while Florescu made another major step forward with a 2:08.038, climbing to P19 before ultimately securing P20 overall in an outstanding session for the Campos Racing rookie. Stevens ended P24, with Paatz P31, Panzeri P32, and Bättig unable to set a representative time in P33.
Race 1 was initially delayed due to worsening weather and eventually held in extremely wet conditions. Stevens lined up for her very first Formula 4 race in P19, with Florescu P24, Bättig P30, Paatz P31 and Panzeri P33. The start proved indeed dramatic: Slater's car stalled on the grid and was immediately collected by Lima, triggering chaos in the midfield. Florescu initially made it through but was then unfortunately caught out by the conditions and ran off into the gravel at Turn 3, ending her race in what were among the most trickiest conditions of the weekend.
Bättig meanwhile capitalised superbly, gaining multiple positions on the opening lap to climb as high as P19 before the Safety Car was deployed. Stevens had to almost stop on the racing line to avoid the start incident ahead, dropping to P22 but showing excellent reactions to keep the car intact. Paatz moved up to P24, while Panzeri climbed to P26.
Following a lengthy recovery for several stranded cars, the race resumed with just over ten minutes remaining. Leader Ethan Lennon accelerated away, with the field disappearing into heavy spray. Bättig continued her charge, advancing to P16, while Paatz edged closer to the top 20. However, another Safety Car was deployed when Emilio Del Grosso stopped outside Turn 3.
With less than one minute remaining when racing resumed, Bansal attempted a slow restart to ensure only one final lap; the pack bunched tightly, leading to further off-track moments at Turn 1. Bättig lost significant ground in the congestion, while Paatz threaded her way through the chaos to reach P20 overall, securing first among the female drivers. Bättig followed in P21, Panzeri finished P24, and Stevens brought the car home safely in P26, completing her first Formula 4 race in extremely treacherous conditions.
Persistent rain continued for Race 2, prompting a Safety Car start. Stevens lined up P20, Bättig P21, Florescu P25, Paatz P30 and Panzeri P32. A stalled car on the formation lap promoted all female drivers one position before the rolling start.
After one lap behind the Safety Car, racing began with immediate contact at Turn 1 between Savinkov and Coronel. Bättig quickly shone again with a great start, moving into P18 and briefly taking the top female position. Paatz gained ground as well slotting into P25, while Florescu slipped to P28 before settling into rhythm. Panzeri suffered an off-track moment on Lap 3 but rejoined after a gravel excursion.
Bättig then showed strong pace but dropped back after a mistake in the second sector; it would be Stevens to inherit the top female spot in P19 and the British driver maintained consistent lap times around 2:10.3, but was unfortunately caught in contact at Turn 5 with Corte and Orsini while battling for position, thus dropping to the back through no fault of her own.
At this point Paatz moved into P21 and assumed the lead among the female drivers, but Florescu mounted a strong recovery, climbing to P24 and passing Bättig. Setting laps as quick as 2:08.7, Florescu closed rapidly on Paatz, engaging in a thrilling duel. A bold late move at Turn 5 nearly paid off, but Paatz responded with a switchback to retain position.
The battle went down to the line, with Paatz initially holding on under intense pressure. However, post-race penalties for track limits dropped the German from P22 to P27, handing Florescu her first Female Trophy victory on the first Formula 4 race she finished. Bättig finished P26, also penalised, while Stevens recovered to P28 with a late pass on Panzeri after showing strong late-race pace.
Sunday morning’s Race 3 again took place on a wet track, this time with a standing start. Florescu lined up as the leading female driver in P19, ahead of Stevens P23, Paatz P30, Panzeri P31 and Bättig P32.
Despite slippery conditions, the start was largely clean. Florescu settled into P21, while Paatz made an excellent launch, gaining seven positions to P23. Bättig surged from the back to P24, passing Stevens, while Panzeri advanced to P28.
As the race settled, Florescu broke into the top 20 and once again led the female field, with Paatz and Bättig in close pursuit. The group ran at near-identical pace in the low-2:09s, soon forming a four-car train as Stevens joined the fight.
On Lap 10, Paatz ran deep at Turn 5, allowing Battig through, with Stevens immediately pressuring from behind. Ahead, Florescu improved to a 2:08.8 and built a small but decisive gap. Stevens, meanwhile, lost a position to Kammerlander, who then also demoted Paatz shortly after.
On the final lap, Florescu controlled the pace perfectly, crossing the line P20 overall to secure her second Female Trophy of the weekend. Bättig finished P21, six tenths behind, while Paatz crossed P24 just ahead of Stevens. Panzeri completed a clean race in P26, setting her personal best lap on the final tour.
The Formula Winter Series returns in just a few days at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. Zoe Florescu Potolea will continue her learning curve, joined again by Bättig and Panzeri, while the F1 Academy drivers will be absent due to the upcoming collective testing in Shanghai. American Caitlyn McDaniel will meanwhile make her F4 debut after competing in GB4 Championship last year.