Tatuus iMagazine

33 but we have a tuner (Neil Brown Engineering) who guarantees equality among the competitors with close monitoring” British F4 has been home to some innovative features, especially around safety… “Thanks to our collaboration with BTCC and its promoter, TOCA, we introduced an electronic system that replicates the contents of the marshalling panels on the steering wheel, like for yellow flags and safety cars. We received really positive feedback from the drivers not only as direct safety element per se, but because the device enables them to be more focused, without having to keep scanning for panels that might or might not be perfectly visible in some situations.” The UK has many really challenging old‐school tracks. Do you think they can provide additional value for young drivers? “We know that many Formula 1 drivers of today and from the past have reached our country and cut their teeth on tracks that are not easy to learn. I think that some of the circuits that we have around Europe are less punishing for a driver that makes mistakes, even Silverstone itself but generally speaking, in the UK there are sequences of complex corners to learn, elevation changes, and highly‐technical sectors. Our circuits are good for fighting, and it’s normal to see cars always running close. The drivers competing in British F4 are between 16 and 18, they come from karting, and our mission is to improve their racecraft. With our calendar we offer an ideal environment for this to happen.” Coming from British F4, Lando Norris went all the way to F1, and Oscar Piastri is close to a spot in the World Championship. Will somebody follow in their footsteps? “I have no doubt that we will provide motorsport with more high‐level professional drivers. I wouldn’t be surprised by seeing more drivers graduate from British F4 to Formula 1 in the next five years, based on what team representatives tell us. We already have drivers from the junior programmes of Williams, McLaren, and Mercedes, and even the Ferrari Driver Academy is looking at our championship, which reaffirms its high quality.”