Martin Molnár made his debut on a Formula 1 race weekend at the iconic Silverstone Circuit – and he made sure everyone noticed. The Hungarian driver impressed with bold overtakes in both British F4 support races, and his P3 in qualifying proved he had the pace to match.
While this round didn’t count towards the championship standings, it was a major weekend for the British F4 field. For the first time in history, all three FIA-certified junior series – F2, F3, and F4 – raced alongside F1 during the same weekend. It was a milestone moment, and Martin Molnár rose to the occasion.
The Virtuosi Racing driver, currently second in the overall standings, approached the weekend eager to make the most of the opportunity – and he certainly delivered. On Saturday, he set the third-fastest time in qualifying, and his second-best lap placed him P9 for Race 1. Only two races (each 25 minutes long) were held instead of the usual three.
Despite starting from the fifth row, Martin delivered a stunning performance in Race 1, which took place right after Max Verstappen’s pole-winning F1 qualifying lap. The late-afternoon crowd that stayed in the grandstands witnessed a thrilling display from the 16-year-old, whose aggressive moves kept fans on the edge of their seats.
At times brushing the grass with his tires, and even hanging wheels over the run-off area, Martin executed brave passes at Stowe – both inside and outside – and even took a position around the outside at Copse, the very corner that saw the famous Verstappen–Hamilton clash. Though he couldn’t fight for the podium due to his starting position, he was a constant presence in the race broadcast and eventually crossed the line in P7.
Martin looked set for a podium charge in Race 2, but a three-place grid penalty for a Race 1 incident with Ella Lloyd forced him to start from sixth. That didn’t stop him from fighting: he gained a spot off the line, lost it again, then launched a recovery with three stellar overtakes – including a move on title rival Fionn McLaughlin – climbing up to P4. However, the charge took a toll on his tyres, and he eventually finished a solid P5.
Martin reflected on the weekend with satisfaction:
“In a way, it might have been even better this way – starting further back gave me more chances to fight and show what I can do. It was an amazing weekend overall. Racing in front of such a big crowd with an incredible atmosphere was something special, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was surreal to start from the Formula 1 pit lane. Our team, Virtuosi Racing, was based right in front of the Ferrari garage, so before heading out, I looked to the side and saw Lewis Hamilton’s car sitting there. That’s a moment I won’t forget. Now I have a short break, but I’ll keep training and stay close to racing – next week, I’ll be coaching in karting, and then at the end of July, we go racing again at Zandvoort, one of my favourite tracks.”
Tamás Pál Kiss, Sporting Director of Motorsport Talent Management (MOTAM), echoed Martin’s sentiments: “This weekend wasn’t just about results. What mattered most was what we saw on track. Martin’s aggressive overtakes and racecraft showcased his talent far more than if he had just driven around alone in a better position. On a high-profile weekend like this, he proved he belongs.”
Tamás Őry, CEO of MOTAM also considered the British GP weekend a success. “There’s a tiny bit of frustration about missing the podium, but that was down to the grid penalty – and situations like that are part of the learning curve. Even if we don’t agree with the decision, we have to learn to deal with it. It was a borderline call that could’ve gone either way.”
“What matters is that Martin got a taste of the world he wants to belong to, and he said it himself: he wants to come back. We’ll do everything we can to make that happen. Regardless of the result, he proved he’s competitive. Teams are always looking for that ‘something special’ in a driver – and Martin showed exactly that in the second half of Saturday’s race. His overtakes weren’t just brave, they were exceptional. That few minutes of driving was a real highlight – for us, for the fans, and for the sport.”
“Behind the scenes, we also had important discussions. We’re working on Martin’s long-term career path and by the end of the summer, we’ll likely know where we’re headed for the next couple of years. In the meantime, Martin will use this short break to recharge, train, and prepare for the second half of the season – where the ultimate goal is to fight for the British F4 title.”
The next round of the British F4 Championship will take place on July 26–27 at Zandvoort, Netherlands.