Max Karhan’s determination pays off with first F4 CEZ victory

Max Karhan fought hard for his debut victory in the F4 Central European Zone. Throughout the weekend at the Slovakia Ring, he consistently ranked among the top five, but he saved his best performance for the final race.

The Czech driver Max Karhan made his debut in the F4 CEZ in the second half of last season. He joined the Swiss team Jenzer Motorsport, gaining his first experiences on major circuits with a Formula 4 car. Gradually, he picked up speed, and this year, he had his sights set on the podium.

When he arrived at the Slovakia Ring for the third event of the season, he impressed with the fourth-best qualifying time. In the first race on Saturday, he was just a step away from his dream podium, missing third place by only 0.1 seconds.

In the second race, he started again from fourth place and remained in the leading group of drivers, where no one gave an inch of asphalt for free. Tight battles, occasional minor contacts, and frequent overtaking maneuvers characterized the second sprint at the Slovakia Ring. Max was racing on older tires and finished fourth again, saving a fresh set of Pirelli tires for the final sprint.

For the final race, Max started from the front row and immediately took the lead. Although he was briefly overtaken by Oscar Wurz, who had started from fifth, he didn’t let his teammate from Jenzer Motorsport get away. On the contrary, he attacked Wurz and looked for any opportunity to overtake. Their battle was joined by Jonathan Correrella, turning their race to the finish into a spectacular show.

In the final phase of the race, Max made a winning maneuver and left Wurz behind for good. He crossed the finish line with a lead of 0.8 seconds and celebrated his first victory emotionally.

„This is a huge success for me and my career, and I hope more will follow. I’m already looking forward to more great battles on the track,“ said Max, who is the first Czech to win a Formula 4 race certified by the International Automobile Federation in five years. The last time this happened was in 2019, thanks to Roman Staněk in ADAC F4.

Max is part of the F4 Academy team, where he coaches and mentors the new generation of racing drivers. He is also an official representative of the Czech Auto Club and is among the entrants for the FIA Motorsport Games, held every two years. This year’s event will take place in October at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, where Karhan will compete in the Formula 4 races.