Fresh from claiming his maiden podium in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship at Zandvoort, 17-year-old ACI Team Italia driver Emanuele Olivieri heads into the fourth round of the season at Monza (19-21 June) leading the Rookie standings. The R-ace GP driver currently holds a three-point advantage over ART Grand Prix’s Alexandre Munoz and will arrive at his home event full of confidence following his breakthrough result in Belgium.
Ahead of the Monza weekend, we caught up with the young Italian to discuss his season so far, his ambitions and the next steps in his development.
This is your first season in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship. What are your goals for the year?
Obviously, my expectations are quite high. R-ace GP is a team that always aims for the top, and I believe we have the potential to achieve strong results. The first two rounds of the season were not ideal, but overall I have big ambitions and I’m determined to keep improving.
This is your second season with R-ace GP after racing with the team in the Italian F4 Championship last year. How important is that continuity?
It’s definitely a positive factor. Having a strong relationship with the team is extremely important. After last season, I really became part of the R-ace GP family. They believe in me and I have a lot of confidence in them. That mutual trust can only help us move forward together.
What differences have you noticed between Formula 4 and Formula Regional?
The biggest difference is certainly the aerodynamic aspect. You can really feel it, especially in the high-speed corners. The car is also heavier. Overall, though, I adapted quite quickly. I really enjoy driving the new-generation Formula Regional Tatuus car – it’s a lot of fun and very rewarding to drive.
How important is the Race Mode system, both strategically and in race management?
It’s extremely important because you can deploy it whenever you want, for a total of 100 seconds, and the performance gain is significant. You can use it both to defend and to attack. If you manage it well and save some for the closing stages while your rivals have already used theirs, it can make overtaking much easier. It’s also a great feature because it adds another strategic element and makes the racing more exciting.
This season you’ve raced for the first time at the Red Bull Ring, Zandvoort and Spa-Francorchamps. How valuable is it to gain experience on these circuits?
Besides Monza and Imola, every circuit on this year’s calendar is new to me. Looking at the 2026 calendar, they are all fantastic tracks. Learning them is very important, not only for this season but also for my future development as a driver.
One of the people who has followed your career most closely, alongside your father Fabrizio, is three-time Le Mans winner Dindo Capello. What is your relationship like?
My relationship with Dindo is very close because he is my godfather and he has always supported me throughout my racing career. Even when he’s not at the circuit, he keeps following my progress. He’s definitely a very important figure in my life and in my development as a driver.
Among the drivers who have progressed through the junior categories and Formula Regional, is there anyone whose path you would like to follow?
As an Italian driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is certainly the main reference point. What he has achieved is very impressive and, of course, I would love to follow a similar path.
Speaking of Antonelli, this year you joined ACI Team Italia, a programme that has previously supported the Mercedes driver. What does that mean to you?
Being part of ACI Team Italia is a very important recognition for me. It means that the work I have done in the past, and what I am doing now, has been appreciated. I’m very proud of that. It can be an important support for my career and it motivates me to keep working harder and striving to improve every day.
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