Masson-Capietto, duel at the top in Magny-Cours

This isn't the first time these two have come together to compete for a title. This had already been the case in the French Junior Championship (OK-J) karting in 2019, to the advantage of Esteban Masson. But at the time, there was no question of car and above all, there was much more of a gap between the two men before the last round since they arrived in Nièvre with equal points. If we look at the raw ranking, it is Macéo Capietto who is in the lead with 7 units ahead of his rival Esteban Masson before the last round. Except that the FFSA deducts the worst meeting of each driver to determine their final ranking. And with this deal, the two young men are tied. But with the counts, the calculations are simple: to be champion, Esteban Masson will have to score at least 41 points and score one unit more than his rival. Otherwise, Macéo Capietto will be crowned. 

Esteban Masson (236 pts, 203 after counting)

On the one hand, there is Esteban Masson, 17 years old, who, like his rival, is competing in his first season in Formula 4. The Franco-Canadian was clearly above the rest at the start of the championship, thanks among other things to the two preparatory rounds that he completed at Le Castellet in 2019 and 2020. The young man quickly showed a big burst of speed, particularly on one lap, by achieving seven pole positions, including five out of six in the first three sleeves. His three victories during the first two meetings allowed him to afford a small mattress, which could have been even bigger without a small error at the start in Race 3 at Nogaro, and if he had not had the unpleasant surprise to see his front wing support shattered on a curb at Magny-Cours (May 8-9) while he was outclassing the competition. After the race in Nièvre, we even headlined: “Esteban Masson, alone in the world”, evoking the feeling of an adult fighting against a platoon of teenagers. But that was without counting on the progress of his competitors, on a less good move from the main one concerned and on the rebellion of Macéo Capietto!

Esteban Masson has won five victories this year. ©DPPI

Macéo Capietto (243 pts, 203 after counting)

Despite 40 points behind his long-time rival after three rounds due in particular to a non-participation in race 1 at Nogaro following a problem with his car, Macéo fought back in Hungary by winning Race 3. At the Hungaroring , a racing incident between Capietto and Masson made relations difficult between the two men, after the former caught the other in Race 2 and led to his abandonment. The track marshals ruled the incident a racing incident. Macéo in any case re-signed a victory in Race 1 at Lédenon (September 11-12) during the following round, and signed two second places at Monza while taking the victory points, taking advantage of the ineligibility for double points winner Elliott Vayron. Despite his inexperience in F4, Macéo and his engineering brain caught up, to the point of rushing at full speed on his great rival. At Castellet, during the last round, the two men almost neutralized each other by scoring 45 and 44 points in the Var. The curves of the two seeds of champions have joined and at Magny-Cours, the two boys have an appointment with their destiny. 

Macéo Capietto, during his first single-seater victory at Magny-Cours in F4 France © Florent Gooden / DPPI