2023 Macau Formula 4 Race

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The 2023 Macau Formula 4 Race, also called the Macau Asia Formula 4, was held on November 12 at the Guia Circuit in Macau as part of the 2023 Macau Grand Prix weekend. It was an invitational, non-championship round of the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship. The event featured two races: a seven-lap qualifying race to set the starting grid for the twelve-lap final, with 23 drivers from 11 teams driving Tatuus F4-T421 cars.

Key points
- Winner and format: Arvid Lindblad of SJM Theodore Prema Racing won the qualifying race (earning pole for the final) and then won the final race as well, leading every lap of the weekend. Charles Leong finished second in both the qualifying race and the final, with Rashid Al Dhaheri third in the final.
- Weather and conditions: The morning practice and qualifying were affected by rain and spray. The qualifying race started wet with several safety-car deployments due to crashes.
- Qualifying data: Lindblad claimed pole in the qualifying session with a fast lap of 2:24.293. Freddie Slater was second; Hadrien David third. Several drivers faced incidents, including crashes and damage to cars, during practice and the qualifying session.
- Qualifying race details: Lindblad led from the front, winning the race; Slater was second, Leong third. Daryanani crashed, and other incidents caused a couple of race stoppages.
- Final race: The weather improved, the track dried, but there were oil patches from an earlier crash that led to safety-car periods. Lindblad again led from start to finish, with Leong close behind and Al Dhaheri in third. Beeton finished fourth, followed by Ho, Rodrigues, David, Yeh, and others. One driver, Narac, received penalties earlier in the event.
- Notable drivers: The entry included Bianca Bustamante, Miki Koyama, and Vivian Siu (three female drivers). Budget constraints kept former Macau GP winner Wing Chung Chang out of the event.
- Fastest lap: Lindblad set the fastest lap of the final race at 2:24.791 on lap 10.
- Cars and safety: All competitors used the F4-T421 chassis with Fiat Abarth turbo engines and Halo safety devices. The event highlighted Macau’s tricky street course conditions and the importance of safety-car responses during wet and oil-covered sections.

Outcome
Arvid Lindblad dominated Macau F4 that weekend, winning the qualifying race and the final race from pole. Charles Leong finished a close second, with Rashid Al Dhaheri third in the final. The event showcased the challenges of street racing in Macau and served as a notable showcase for young F4 talent in 2023.