The 72nd Macau Grand Prix roars to life with a thrilling start as Freddie Slater seizes the provisional pole position for the prestigious FIA FR World Cup’s Qualification Race on Saturday. But here’s where it gets even more exciting: while Slater celebrates his early lead, 19 young drivers from around the globe are making history in the inaugural FIA F4 World Cup, marking the first-ever track action for this entry-level category in Macau. This groundbreaking addition to the Grand Prix schedule isn’t just a race—it’s the starting point of the FIA’s global development pathway, offering the next generation of single-seater drivers a golden opportunity to master the legendary yet unforgiving 6.120-kilometer Guia Circuit early in their careers. It’s also their chance to experience Macau’s iconic street track before potentially advancing to the FIA FR World Cup in future seasons.
And this is the part most people miss: the FIA F4 World Cup isn’t just about racing—it’s about shaping the future of motorsport. Briton Kean Nakamura-Berta set the pace in Free Practice 1, though the session was interrupted by three red flags. The first was caused by British F4 champion Fionn McLaughlin, who stopped on the run to Lisboa corner. Crashes involving Alexandre Munoz, the 2024 French F4 title winner, and Chinese F4 contender Yuzhe Wang also halted proceedings. Emanuele Olivieri of Italy and Argentine Gino Trappa, the 2024 F4 CEZ champion, rounded out the top three behind Nakamura-Berta. The F4 competitors return to the track for Free Practice 2 at 09:15 local time on Friday.
In the FIA GT World Cup, Laurens Vanthoor topped the first practice with a blistering lap of 2m16.451s, but his session ended abruptly after a crash at the high-speed Mandarin kink, typically taken at over 270 kph. While Vanthoor emerged unharmed, his Porsche 911 GT3 R was too damaged for further participation. Teammate Alessio Picariello stepped up to clock the fastest time in Free Practice 2, a 2m15.966s, ahead of Raffaele Marciello and Sheldon van der Linde. Qualifying Q1 begins at 15:40 local time on Friday, followed by the first-ever Qualifying Q2 ‘Super Pole’ shootout—a format that’s sure to spark debate among fans.
Here’s where opinions might diverge: is the ‘Super Pole’ shootout a fair way to determine grid positions, or does it favor certain driving styles over others? Let us know in the comments! Meanwhile, in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour, Michel Azona and Norbert Michelisz of BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse dominated Free Practice 1 and 2, respectively, with points leader Yann Ehrlacher close behind. Qualifying starts at 12:10 local time on Friday.
Despite his provisional pole, Slater remains cautious, insisting, ‘Nothing’s done yet.’ The 17-year-old, who won the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, faced a challenging final few laps, including a red flag caused by Hiyu Yamakoshi’s crash at Lisboa. A second red flag followed to clear Reza Seewooruthun’s car, leaving drivers with one last chance to improve. Slater delivered a flawless lap, edging out Enzo Deligny by 0.308s, with Mari Boya completing the top three. His time of 2m15.708s smashed Ugo Ugochukwu’s 2024 record of 2m19.107s, but the final grid won’t be confirmed until Qualifying Q2 at 14:30 on Friday.
‘It wasn’t easy, especially with that last red flag,’ Slater admitted. ‘I had to adapt corner by corner and find the grip. I delivered, but there’s still practice and qualifying tomorrow.’ Meanwhile, Taito Kato, fastest in Free Practice 1 for Van Amersfoort Racing, finished as the top rookie in eighth place.
Looking ahead to Friday, November 14:
- 13:30-14:10: FIA F4 World Cup Qualifying
- 14:30-15:10: FIA FR World Cup Qualifying 2
- 15:40-16:10: FIA GT World Cup Qualifying Q1
- 16:30-16:55: FIA GT World Cup Qualifying Q2
All times are local and subject to change. Catch the action live on the FIA’s official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/FIAOfficialVideo).
The Macau Grand Prix is more than a race—it’s a celebration of motorsport passion, bringing together single-seater, GT, and touring car drivers from around the world to tackle one of the most demanding circuits on the planet. For a decade now, it’s also been a platform for FIA World Cup races, showcasing the best talent across disciplines. This year, all three FIA World Cup events will be streamed live and free on the FIA’s YouTube channel, ensuring fans worldwide can witness the drama unfold. But here’s a thought to ponder: as Macau continues to evolve, how will these new formats and categories shape the future of motorsport? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear your take!
