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April 06, 2025
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Despite starting the season strongly, and consistently getting results, the Malta Force duo were kept off the top step of the podium at Suzuka on Thursday night.
Race 1: Ciutiis commands from the front
Pole-sitter Lorenzo De Ciutiis showed a return to the form that had eluded him since pre-season. The Shiba driver nailed the launch, controlled the race from the front, and soaked up late pressure from Majka and teammate Giuseppe Saracino to secure a lights-to-flag victory. The result marks Ciutiis' first win of the season and vaults him up the standings.
Behind him, Majka and Saracino both delivered strong drives. Saracino, in particular, looked confident, pulling off a late-race pass on Patryk Roszak to snatch third, while Roszak and Andrzejewski rounded out the top five in what was a closely contested lead group.
Further back, Jasse Lahtinen continued his quiet resurgence with sixth, while Apex teammate Oliver Taras stormed from 15th on the grid to eighth - the biggest climb inside the top ten. HGP's Frank Hamming was again solid in seventh, and there were important points too for OverPower's Scott Flack and KKR's Steven Lexow.
Not everyone made it to the finish cleanly - Pixelate's Massimiliano Ribolli faded late after qualifying 13th, while teammates Mateusz Guzowski and Lucas Murno hovered around the midfield but couldn't break through. There were DNFs for several midfield runners, including Philipp Konig, Vin Glenn, and Alex Gonzalez-Greene.
Race 2: Lahtinen strikes back
From reverse-grid pole, Jasse Lahtinen controlled the sprint and took his maiden FS1 win after withstanding late pressure from Andrzejewski and Roszak. The Apex GP driver had shown glimpses of speed all season but finally converted that into silverware with a measured drive.
Andrzejewski, ever the calculating operator, picked up more vital points in second, while Roszak bounced back well after a slightly scrappy Race 1 to claim third. Taras capped off a brilliant day for Apex with fourth, vaulting the team up the standings.
Majka and Saracino again finished in the lead pack, both less than five seconds from the win, underlining how tight the margins are at the front. Hamming followed them home in seventh, while Ciutiis couldn't repeat his earlier heroics and had to settle for eighth.
There was more frustration for OverPower's Flack, who once again ran well early but faded to ninth. Lucas Murno bagged another points finish in tenth, ahead of a charging Vin Glenn, who rebounded from his Race 1 retirement with a 15-place gain.
Malta Force pull clear
While Lahtinen stole the headlines with his breakthrough win, it's Malta Force who leave Suzuka with the biggest smiles. Andrzejewski's 33-point haul and Majka's consistent podiums keep them planted at the top of the drivers' and constructors' championships. Andrzejewski leads Majka by eight points in the standings, and together they hold a 88-point buffer in the team fight.
Shiba's strong round closes the gap slightly, thanks to Ciutiis' win and another double-score from Saracino, but it's Apex GP who may feel the most optimistic. With Lahtinen finally delivering on his promise and Taras showing combative pace, their all-round performance hints at a proper title push.
Meanwhile, Nexium remain competitive but inconsistent. Roszak's podiums keep him in the hunt, but reliable finishes continue to be a concern. HGP, too, are quietly collecting points, while teams like OverPower, Iris and Pixelate are still seeking momentum.
Next up is Jeddah, where we are welcomed by Saudi Arabia for a fight on the fast-flowing street track.
Pole-sitter Lorenzo De Ciutiis showed a return to the form that had eluded him since pre-season. The Shiba driver nailed the launch, controlled the race from the front, and soaked up late pressure from Majka and teammate Giuseppe Saracino to secure a lights-to-flag victory. The result marks Ciutiis' first win of the season and vaults him up the standings.
Behind him, Majka and Saracino both delivered strong drives. Saracino, in particular, looked confident, pulling off a late-race pass on Patryk Roszak to snatch third, while Roszak and Andrzejewski rounded out the top five in what was a closely contested lead group.
Further back, Jasse Lahtinen continued his quiet resurgence with sixth, while Apex teammate Oliver Taras stormed from 15th on the grid to eighth - the biggest climb inside the top ten. HGP's Frank Hamming was again solid in seventh, and there were important points too for OverPower's Scott Flack and KKR's Steven Lexow.
Not everyone made it to the finish cleanly - Pixelate's Massimiliano Ribolli faded late after qualifying 13th, while teammates Mateusz Guzowski and Lucas Murno hovered around the midfield but couldn't break through. There were DNFs for several midfield runners, including Philipp Konig, Vin Glenn, and Alex Gonzalez-Greene.
Race 2: Lahtinen strikes back
From reverse-grid pole, Jasse Lahtinen controlled the sprint and took his maiden FS1 win after withstanding late pressure from Andrzejewski and Roszak. The Apex GP driver had shown glimpses of speed all season but finally converted that into silverware with a measured drive.
Andrzejewski, ever the calculating operator, picked up more vital points in second, while Roszak bounced back well after a slightly scrappy Race 1 to claim third. Taras capped off a brilliant day for Apex with fourth, vaulting the team up the standings.
Majka and Saracino again finished in the lead pack, both less than five seconds from the win, underlining how tight the margins are at the front. Hamming followed them home in seventh, while Ciutiis couldn't repeat his earlier heroics and had to settle for eighth.
There was more frustration for OverPower's Flack, who once again ran well early but faded to ninth. Lucas Murno bagged another points finish in tenth, ahead of a charging Vin Glenn, who rebounded from his Race 1 retirement with a 15-place gain.
Malta Force pull clear
While Lahtinen stole the headlines with his breakthrough win, it's Malta Force who leave Suzuka with the biggest smiles. Andrzejewski's 33-point haul and Majka's consistent podiums keep them planted at the top of the drivers' and constructors' championships. Andrzejewski leads Majka by eight points in the standings, and together they hold a 88-point buffer in the team fight.
Shiba's strong round closes the gap slightly, thanks to Ciutiis' win and another double-score from Saracino, but it's Apex GP who may feel the most optimistic. With Lahtinen finally delivering on his promise and Taras showing combative pace, their all-round performance hints at a proper title push.
Meanwhile, Nexium remain competitive but inconsistent. Roszak's podiums keep him in the hunt, but reliable finishes continue to be a concern. HGP, too, are quietly collecting points, while teams like OverPower, Iris and Pixelate are still seeking momentum.
Next up is Jeddah, where we are welcomed by Saudi Arabia for a fight on the fast-flowing street track.
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