STRONG START WITH US RACING – LUKA SAMMALISTO IMPRESSES IN PORTIMÃO

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Luka Sammalisto kicked off his 2025 season with an impressive debut for US Racing at the Formula Winter Series in Portimão. After joining the championship-winning team run by Gerhard Ungar and Ralf Schumacher, Luka quickly adapted to his new environment, showing both speed and consistency throughout the weekend.

Building Momentum in Qualifying
Luka demonstrated steady progress during Thursday and Friday’s test sessions, culminating in a P4 finish on Friday afternoon. In Saturday’s qualifying, he secured P6 for Race 1 with a time of 1:45.999 (+0.466). His second-fastest lap also placed him P6 for Race 2. Luka qualified P8 in the second session with a time of 1:45.947 (+0.524), setting him up well for the weekend’s races.

Race Recap: Consistency and Growth
Race 1: Luka made an immediate impact, gaining a position on the opening lap. With strong pace, he overtook Red Bull Junior Fionn McLaughlin and soon closed in on his US Racing teammate Edu Robinson. After a well-executed pass, Luka crossed the finish line in P3, securing his first podium of the season. Unfortunately, a five-second time penalty for track limits dropped him to P10.

Race 2: The second race was dominated by two extended safety car periods, leaving little room for overtaking. Despite the limited action, Luka maintained his starting position and benefited from penalties ahead, finishing in P4—his best result of the weekend.

Race 3: Sunday’s race presented tricky conditions after a pre-race shower. While some drivers opted for slicks, most, including Luka, started on wet tires. After an early red flag and restart behind the safety car, Luka capitalized on the gaps that opened ahead. He overtook Maximilian Popov, closed a three-second gap to teammate Edu Robinson, and ultimately finished in P6. Post-race penalties for other drivers promoted Luka to P5.

Luka’s Reflection on the Weekend
“It was a positive start to the season. We showed good pace, learned a lot, and I’m confident heading into the next round in Barcelona.”

Looking Ahead
Luka’s strong start with US Racing is a promising sign for the upcoming season. With valuable experience gained and solid results in the bag, the focus now shifts to the final round of the Formula Winter Series in Barcelona, followed by preparations for the Italian F4 Championship.

Stay tuned for more updates on Luka’s journey by visiting www.lukasammalistoracing.com.

Autore: Lukas Wunderlich