MATHILDA PAATZ Breaks Through for First F4 Podium at Red Bull Ring

May 19, 2025

• MATHILDA PAATZ grabbed her first-ever Formula 4 podium with a second-place finish in Race 3 at the Red Bull Ring, starting from pole position—also her first—and defending brilliantly against late pressure from Karhan. The German driver with the family-run Mathilda Racing team showed she belongs in the sharp end of F4 CEZ competition, pulling away early before settling into a defensive masterclass when Trappa eventually made the pass with five minutes remaining.
• The breakthrough weekend showcased PAATZ’s resilience across three chaotic races, including a promotion to sixth in Race 1 after penalties from a dramatic rollover incident, and a charge from sixth to the lead group in Race 2 before tire degradation dropped her back to seventh. Her progression from ninth-place points scorer in her debut weekend to pole-sitter and podium finisher demonstrates the rapid learning curve that makes F4 such compelling viewing.
• What makes this podium particularly satisfying is how PAATZ earned it—not through lucky circumstances but by executing under pressure when it mattered most. Starting her first pole position cleanly, building a gap, then holding her nerve against seasoned competitors in wheel-to-wheel combat shows the racing intelligence that separates promising talent from genuine contenders in the competitive F4 CEZ field.

brazilian formula 4, f4 cez, mathilda racing, red bull ring