The 72nd Macau Grand Prix is go with Freddie Slater taking the provisional pole position for the headlining FIA FR World Cup’s Qualification Race on Saturday.
 
While Slater celebrated gaining the early advantage in his pursuit of Macau Grand Prix glory, 19 young stars from across the globe were busy making history as the inaugural FIA F4 World Cup got under way with the first track action for the entry-level category.
 
This exciting addition to the Macau Grand Prix schedule, and the starting point of the FIA’s global development pathway, provides a gilt-edged opportunity for the next generation of single-seater drivers to gain knowledge of the iconic yet demanding 6.120-kilometre Guia Circuit early in their single-seater careers. It’s also a chance for them to experience Macau’s street track ahead of stepping up to the FIA FR World Cup in future seasons.
 
Briton Kean Nakamura-Berta was quickest in Free Practice 1, which was interrupted by three red flags. The first was caused by British F4 champion Fionn McLaughlin, who was forced to park up on the run down to Lisboa corner in the opening moments of the 40-minute session. Crashes for Alexandre Munoz, the 2024 French F4 title winner, and Chinese F4 contender Yuzhe Wang also caused red-flag stoppages. Emanuele Olivieri from Italy and Argentine Gino Trappa, the 2024 F4 CEZ champion, completed the top three order behind Nakamura-Berta. The FIA F4 competitors will be back on track with Free Practice 2 from 09:15 local time on Friday.

 
Laurens Vanthor set a best lap of 2m16.451s to top the FIA GT World Cup first practice but then crashed exiting the Mandarin kink, which is usually taken at upwards of 270kph, to bring out the red flags. The Belgian driver was uninjured although his Tempo by Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) was too badly damaged for him to take part in Free Practice 2. It was left to his team-mate, Alessio Picariello, to clock the fastest time, a 2m15.966s ahead of Raffaele Marciello (ROWE Racing BMW) and Sheldon van der Linde (Team WRT BMW). Qualifying Q1 is up next for the FIA GT World Cup runners from 15:40 local time on Friday followed by the first-ever Qualifying Q2 ‘Super Pole’ shootout.
 
Michel Azona and BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse team-mate Norbert Michelisz were fastest in Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Free Practice 1 and 2 respectively. Points leader Yann Ehrlacher was second fastest on both occasions for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing. Qualifying is from 12:10 local time on Friday.
 
Slater insists “nothing’s done yet” in FIA FR World Cup
Freddie Slater said the job was only half done after he claimed the provisional pole position for the FIA FR World Cup Qualification Race on Saturday.
                   
Slater, the winner of the FIA-certified 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, looked to have lost out on top spot when a crash for Hiyu Yamakoshi at Lisboa brought out the red flags with 10 minutes remaining just after Enzo Deligny had gone faster. A second red flag followed with five minutes left to clear Reza Seewooruthun’s stricken car, leaving all drivers effectively with one final chance to improve on their positions.
 
Slater, driving for SJM Theodore PREMA Racing, delivered the perfect lap, to demote Deligny into second by 0.308s as Mari Boya completed the overnight top three.
 
The Briton’s effort of 2m15.708s was comfortably inside Ugo Ugochukwu’s 2m19.107s set during qualifying for the inaugural FIA FR World Cup in 2024. However, the grid for the Qualification Race won’t be known until after Qualifying Q2 from 14:30 tomorrow.
 
“It wasn’t the easiest last couple of laps, especially with that last red flag,” said Slater, 17. “Everybody was pretty tight, I had to adapt at the end of the day on that last lap and feel the grip corner by corner, which got better throughout the lap. I had to deliver but there’s another practice and qualifying tomorrow, so nothing’s done yet.”
 
Meanwhile, Taito Kato, who was fastest in Free Practice 1 for Van Amersfoort Racing, was the top rookie in eighth place.
 
THE DAY AHEAD IN MACAU: FRIDAY 14 NOVEMBER
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
Timings are local and subject to change. Watch live on the FIA’s official YouTube channel.

 
The Macau Grand Prix is a celebration of motor sport passion – a spectacular season finale for single-seater, GT and touring car drivers, who come together from different championships around the world to test their skills on the most demanding of circuits. At the same time, it has long been a proving ground for the rising stars of the sport and a hugely important event in the Asia-Pacific region, inspiring the future generations of drivers and fans.
 
This year marks a decade since the Macau Grand Prix has featured designated FIA World Cup races across different disciplines, and the three FIA World Cup events will be streamed and free live on the FIA’s official YouTube channel.