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František Němec is a rookie in the F4 CEZ championship. Racing with the F4 CEZ Academy powered by JMT Racing team, this is his first season competing on major circuits known to motorsport fans around the world. Despite the fierce competition, he’s been steadily progressing toward the points. His best result so far is a sixth-place finish at the Salzburgring, where we did an interview with him.
You’ve completed the first half of your debut season. What does it feel like to race in a professional championship like F4 CEZ, which often serves as a stepping stone to higher junior categories?
It already feels like a much more professional environment compared to what I was used to before, hill climbs or karting, for example. The atmosphere in F4 is on a different level. I also get along really well with the guys at JMT Racing, so there’s great chemistry in the team, which helps a lot.
How do you prepare for the races? Your resources are a bit more limited compared to some of the drivers.
The only real test I’ve had this year was at the start of the season, during the F4 Academy program. I had about an hour or two in the car there. Since then, I’ve been focusing mostly on physical training at home, running and staying fit, and using the simulator provided by the Academy. That’s been a key part of my preparation.
What did the Academy training specifically give you ahead of the F4 season?
Mainly, it helped me develop a structured routine, both in terms of fitness and mental preparation. The simulator, in particular, has been incredibly useful. If I hadn’t had that time on the sim, I’d be nowhere near as prepared for the actual races. Sure, it’s not exactly like real life, but it’s close enough that you can treat it as serious prep. It’s especially helpful when we go to tracks I’ve never been to before, it gives me a head start.
Do you also use onboard footage as part of your preparation?
Absolutely. After every race, we download the onboard footage, and my race engineer Honza Rieger, always sends it to me to study at home. We stay in regular contact and go through things in detail, always looking for ways to improve.
What does a typical race weekend look like for you in Formula 4?
Fridays are usually for paid practice sessions. Since our team runs on a different budget, I don’t take part in every session, just selected ones. And I typically run on used tires from the previous round.
How would you evaluate your season so far, considering the limited resources you’ve had to work with?
Of course, I’d love to be performing even better. But I’m really grateful for the support from the team. The guys know exactly how to set up the car, and we’re moving forward step by step. All things considered, I think it’s going well, but there’s always room to grow.
Do you have a standout moment from the season that you’re particularly proud of?
Definitely the race at the Red Bull Ring. I’d always been a bit hesitant when it came to overtaking in a formula car, even the slightest contact can cause serious damage, and that gave me a bit of a mental block. But at the Red Bull Ring, I finally overcame that. I had a great battle on the final lap and came away with a strong result, which really boosted my confidence.
But the Red Bull Ring was also the site of your unfortunate crash, right?
Yes, that happened during the restart behind the safety car. As we approached the final corner, the lead driver suddenly slowed down to avoid overtaking the safety car. The driver in front of me swerved out of the racing line at the last moment, and there was suddenly a nearly stationary car right in front of me. At that point, there was nothing I could do to avoid it.
What are your goals for the future? Where do you see your career heading?
My main goal this year is to finish the season strong. After that, I’d love to move into touring cars. The racing is more contact-based, which I think would really suit me.
And what kind of foundation do you think Formula 4 gives you for your future racing career?
It teaches you how to manage traffic and maintain awareness with a large field of drivers. That’s absolutely critical in formulas. I mean, take the Red Bull Ring again, two cars collided and one ended up upside down. You’ve really got to keep awereness. Overall, racing on big circuits is a totally different world compared to karting. Karts are smaller, the races are shorter, and the dynamics on track are completely different. This season has been a big learning experience and a valuable one.
