Slovakian driver Matúš Ryba recently turned fifteen and soon after took the cockpit of a Formula 4 car to compete in his first race in the Spanish F4 Championship last weekend. The young Ryba has a busy schedule and will be racing in the F4 CEZ series at the Red Bull Ring this coming weekend. He is taking his entry into the world of motorsport very seriously and intensely.
What inspired you to pursue a career in motorsport?
I played hockey for Slovan Bratislava from the age of 4 to 12, but I always watched my father, who owns the Brutal Fish Racing Team and used to race in TCR and later in Lamborghini Super Trofeo. At one point, I decided to quit hockey and follow in my father’s footsteps, starting with karting. It was quite late to start, but I quickly caught up with the boys my age. In Slovakia, I raced for LSR Racing, in Spain for MDC, and in FIA karting for the factory team of Charles Leclerc.
How was the transition from karting to Formula 4? What were the biggest challenges you faced?
I decided to move from karting to F4 immediately after finishing the Junior category, as we agreed it made more sense to step into big motorsport rather than waste time and money in the senior karting category. The difference was huge, not only in speed and characteristics of F4 but also in having to learn to shift gears and use the clutch. Since I was in karting for a relatively short time, I didn’t bring many bad habits with me.
Can you describe your first experience driving a Formula 4 car? How does F4 differ most from karting?
My first experience was in an older generation F4 car last summer at the Slovakia Ring, and I immediately fell in love with it. The biggest difference is in braking, where you really need to apply strong pressure and properly control the braking process. The top speed is completely different too, with F4 reaching 230 km/h. The G-forces are much higher, and you need to be very well-trained. Everything happens faster, and unlike karting, you need to pay attention to many more things.
What are your main goals for your debut season in the Spanish Formula 4?
This year, I’m competing in the entire Spanish F4 season with the Drivex team, aiming to be in the top 15 and by the end of the season in the top 10. There are almost 40 cars on the grid regularly, and the series is very competitive, with all drivers within 1.5 seconds of each other. My additional program includes two races in F4 Italy with the Jenzer Motorsport team, one race in the Euro 4 Championship, and one race in the CEZ F4. With the British team Argenti, I’ll do three races in British F4. At the end of the season, I’ll represent Slovakia at the FIA Motorsport Games in Valencia, which I’m really looking forward to. The goal this year is to compete in as many races as possible to prepare well for a top 3 attack in 2025 and try to get noticed by one of the F1 team academies.
Will the F4 CEZ race at the Red Bull Ring be your only start, or do you plan more races if time allows? What are your expectations for the Red Bull Ring?
So far, we have only planned this one race in the F4 CEZ, but I hope we can fit more into our schedule. I would have liked to participate at the Balaton Park, but I wasn’t 15 yet at the time, and FIA rules don’t allow drivers under 15. The goal is to gain as much experience as possible since my age didn’t allow me to start earlier. Last weekend, I had my first race. I’m very excited that there will be 25 cars on the grid, which is probably a record for F4 CEZ. The goal is to finish all three races and gain as much experience as possible. I can’t predict my placement, but I definitely want to be at the front.
How do you prepare mentally and physically for a race weekend? How do you handle the pressure, especially as a newcomer in F4?
I’m managed by PRORACING, led by former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Marco Cioci. Through their program, I spend a lot of time on a special simulator, and I have a racing coach Ferdinando Monfardini who also helps manage my mental focus. When I’m home, I train every day in the gym, focusing on strength, endurance, and reaction time. I’m still learning to deal with pressure, and I have to say that staying 100% focused and filtering out all the pressure during a race weekend is the hardest part. This is something I want to focus on in the near future. Practically everywhere I go, I’m the youngest, often racing against drivers 2-3 years older who have more experience and are more mature. But for me, it’s a challenge to catch up with them as quickly as possible.
How do you see your racing career in five years?
Motorsport is primarily about finances, and how far a driver can go is not just about talent and results but also about the budget available. I’m very grateful to my parents because without their support, I wouldn’t be able to do this sport. Of course, I have dreams of where I’d like to go, but I need to stay grounded and work hard. Maybe I can succeed in the top series, whether in single-seaters, GT cars, or prototypes.
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