Macao, Nov 15 (NationPress) Freddie Slater reaffirmed his status as a frontrunner by dominating the qualifying race for the 2025 Macao Grand Prix on Saturday. He surged ahead from the very first lap, ultimately securing a convincing victory. Coming off a triumph in the Formula Regional European championship, the British driver launched from second on the grid and swiftly overtook polesitter Theophile Nael as they approached Reservoir Bend.

By the time they completed the first lap, Slater had already created a comfortable 1.6-second lead, which he expanded to over five seconds by the race's halfway mark.

“There’s a fine line here,” Slater reflected post-race. “If you push too hard, you risk hitting a wall, but if you ease up too much, you lose your rhythm, and that’s when errors happen. Macao is ruthless, so it was crucial to stay on point, maintain the rhythm, and get through the laps.”

Trailing him, Evan Giltaire and Mari Boya also managed to pass Nael at the start, with Boya making an impressive leap from sixth to third. However, Giltaire struggled to keep pace with Slater, which allowed Slater to break free while Boya and Nael sought ways to overtake him, as reported by Xinhua.

Boya finally made his move on lap five, utilizing the slipstream to navigate past into the Lisboa bend, and Nael followed suit one lap later. Both drivers exchanged fastest sectors with Slater towards the race's end once free of Giltaire, but neither could significantly reduce Slater’s lead.

Slater finished the race 5.171 seconds ahead of Boya, with Nael securing third place. Giltaire managed to hold on to fourth, followed by his ART GP teammate Taito Kato in fifth and Enzo Deligny in sixth.

Despite a hectic qualifying earlier in the weekend, the race unfolded smoothly with minimal contact. The only notable incident occurred on lap one at the notoriously narrow Melco Hairpin, where Oscar Wurz collided with Charles Leong. Fortunately, Wurz was able to steer his damaged car into the escape road, avoiding a safety car situation.

The outcomes from this race will determine the grid for Sunday’s main event, where Slater aims to etch his name alongside the legends like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

“Looking at the history here is incredible,” he expressed. “Being on that list would be a dream come true. Watching Macao as a kid was one of the highlights of my year.”

“I truly love being here and wish to return next year. This race is fantastic, and I hope to achieve success tomorrow,” Slater concluded.

Since its inception in 1954, the Macao Grand Prix has evolved into one of the world's most esteemed single-seater competitions, serving as a critical testing ground for young drivers aspiring to reach Formula 1.

The Guia Circuit, with its combination of lengthy straights, tight walls, blind entries, and steep elevation changes, is regarded as one of the most challenging tracks in motorsport.

Transitioning from a Formula 3 event to Formula Regional regulations last year, the race now stands three tiers below Formula 1 on the FIA single-seater hierarchy.