Although it was Santi’s first visit to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, he immediately found his rhythm on the Spanish track, showing promising pace during Friday’s test sessions.
It was, however, Saturday’s qualifying that truly showcased his progress. Panetta delivered an outstanding performance, setting the sixth-fastest time overall and the second-fastest among the rookies, earning a third-row start for Race 1 – his best qualifying result to date in Formula 4.
In Race 1, he made an excellent start and drove a composed, confident race. After skillfully holding his ground against pressure from behind, he crossed the finish line in seventh place overall and third in the Rookie classification, celebrating his first-ever Rookie podium in single-seater racing.
Panetta continued his strong form in Race 2, securing another top-10 finish and narrowly missing out on additional points.
This weekend marked his most competitive and consistent performance yet, a clear demonstration of his steady development throughout the season.
Santino Panetta:
“I’m really happy with how this weekend went,” said Santino Panetta. “We’ve been working hard all season to keep improving, and everything started to come together here in Valencia. Getting my first Rookie podium and scoring points feels amazing. I learned a lot, and now I’m even more motivated to finish the year strong in Barcelona.”
Maria Catarineu, Commercial Director, Bullet Sports Management:
“Santi has been working incredibly hard all year to learn the ropes of single-seater racing, and last weekend was a really important milestone that shows his dedication paying off. We’re thrilled with his progress and excited to see what’s next for young Santino!”
Panetta’s next race will be the Spanish F4 season finale in Barcelona in one month’s time.