At the end of a season in which 11 drivers from eight different teams claimed at least one victory apiece, Emanuele Olivieri wrote his name into the FIA Formula Regional European Championship roll of honour. Following a four-way title fight that went down to the final race of the season-ending round at Hockenheim, the R-ace GP driver was crowned champion. We caught up with the 18-year-old Italian.
After a difficult start at the Red Bull Ring, everything changed from Zandvoort and Monza.
The opening round at the Red Bull Ring was very challenging. We did not have the best pace and, in Race 1, I stalled for the first time in my career. That incident affected the entire weekend and I was unable to regain the right frame of mind.
After that weekend, your recovery began. What changed?
From that point onwards, I improved steadily. At Zandvoort, I immediately rediscovered some very strong pace and became a benchmark within my own team. I managed to secure a podium finish and a sixth place, scoring my first important points. We were quick at Spa, but I made mistakes in both qualifying sessions that cost me dearly, even though I was only a tenth of a second away from pole position. With the rain during the races, there was not much more I could do.
At Monza, however, things changed.
Monza was the round in which I was finally able to show my full potential. I finished second in Race 1. The team did an excellent job on Sunday. They sent me out at exactly the right moment in qualifying and I managed to put everything together in the best possible way and secure the pole position. The race was very intense and full of battles, but in the end I claimed the result I felt we deserved.
When did you realise that the title was genuinely within reach?
Probably after Race 1 at Imola. There were two rounds remaining. Imola went better than expected. My pace was excellent, while my rivals endured a very difficult weekend. That was when I realised the situation had genuinely changed, more because of the points they had lost than those I had gained.
Your relationship with R-ace GP began in Formula 4. Last year, you won the Middle East series title with the French team.
I now have an almost family-like bond with them and, without their support, I probably would not be where I am today. They believed in me in 2024 and I became the first driver to win two titles with the team. That is an achievement of which I am particularly proud.
Almost all the circuits were new to you this year.
Yes, I only knew Imola and Monza. I had studied the other circuits extensively on the simulator, but actually driving on a track is a completely different experience. I am pleased with my ability to adapt: generally, after just one session, I was already able to perform at the same level as the other drivers. New circuits do not intimidate me. On the contrary, they are a challenge I enjoy taking on.
What was your relationship like with two very quick team-mates such as Rashid Al Dhaheri and Yuki Sano?
R-ace GP once again proved to be a top-level team and was the only one whose drivers all secured at least one pole position and one victory. Rashid, in particular, was in his second season and had already completed a strong campaign. He was an important benchmark, not only because of what he did in the car but also because of his overall contribution to the team’s work. We had a very positive relationship. As I was in my first season, I tried to learn as much as possible from Rashid. It was a valuable comparison that helped all of us improve.
Who helped you maintain your confidence during the most difficult moments?
My family, my father and Dindo Capello, who has supported me since I was a child, were fundamental. But so were the team, Thibaut de Mérindol, all the engineers and mechanics, my manager Oliver Kristensen, and ACI Team Italia, which placed its trust in me.
Your family has always shared a very close relationship with Capello, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What advice did Dindo give you before the final and decisive round, which you entered as the championship leader?
He told me that the speed was there and that I should focus on avoiding unnecessary risks and simply do what I knew how to do. There is no secret formula. You have to keep a clear mind and focus on one race and one qualifying session at a time, without constantly thinking about the championship.
From a technical perspective, what did this season teach you?
The championship was extremely competitive. With the Race Mode System, which is different from DRS, I learnt to manage an additional element mentally. That also helped me prepare for the move up to the next categories. Tatuus produced a very good car, including from an aerodynamic perspective. Furthermore, as it is an FIA championship, the regulations are particularly strict and left no room for interpretation. Every team showed that it could be competitive and the gaps were extremely small. We always had to work at the highest possible level, because losing even a single tenth of a second could make a significant difference in terms of positions.
Who is Emanuele Olivieri away from the racetrack?
I am a very normal boy. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I still have to complete my studies and will sit my final secondary school exams this year. Before I started karting at the age of six, I played a little tennis and I still play occasionally.
The title has been secured. Are you already looking to the future?
Yes. We will see what opportunities arise over the next few weeks. The most natural step would be to move up to Formula 3.
