Kean Nakamura-Berta and Emanuele Olivieri praised their teams after securing the front row for the opening race of the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) weekend at Monza.
Nakamura-Berta claimed outright pole position after topping Group B for PREMA Racing, while Olivieri led Group A for R-ace GP. Both drivers highlighted the strength of their cars, the work completed by their teams and the confidence they carried into Qualifying.
Nakamura-Berta delivers at the crucial moment
Nakamura-Berta set the fastest time across both Qualifying groups to secure his fourth pole position of the 2026 FREC season in Monza. Although PREMA endured a more difficult Free Practice session, the British driver entered Qualifying with confidence and produced his best lap when it mattered most.
He also pointed to his strong record at Monza and explained why the Italian circuit continues to suit his driving style.
“It was a mega lap. The car was fantastic, so a big thanks to the team. They’ve done a fantastic job since the start of the season and we’ve been competitive in every Qualifying session.
“Free Practice wasn’t straightforward for us, but we were confident heading into Qualifying and everything came together when it mattered. Monza has probably been one of my strongest tracks statistically and I really enjoy driving here.
“The results at Spa didn’t fully reflect our pace, as we were a bit unlucky on Sunday, but overall it was one of our strongest weekends. The focus now is on doing another good job this weekend, staying calm and seeing what we can achieve in the race.”
Nakamura-Berta arrived at Monza after showing strong pace at Spa-Francorchamps, even though the results failed to reflect PREMA’s full potential. Therefore, he will now focus on converting his latest pole position into a strong result in the opening race.
Olivieri manages the Monza slipstream challenge
Meanwhile, Olivieri topped Group A and earned a front-row start on home soil. The Italian driver handled one of Monza’s biggest Qualifying challenges effectively, as he used the slipstream while maintaining the track position required for a clean lap.
R-ace GP also played an important role by placing Olivieri in the right position on circuit. In addition, the confidence he gained during Free Practice allowed him to attack from the beginning of Qualifying.
“I think it was a pretty good lap. Qualifying at Monza is always quite challenging because managing the slipstream can make a big difference. The team did a great job with the positioning on track and that really helped me put the lap together. The car felt good and, after Free Practice, I had a lot of confidence in the package we had. The team gave me everything I needed and we managed to get the job done.”
Olivieri also finished as the highest-placed Rookie in Qualifying 1. As a result, he will start alongside one of the championship’s strongest performers over a single lap.
Front-row pair shift their focus to the race
Nakamura-Berta and Olivieri reached the front row through different routes, but both drivers relied on precise execution and strong support from their teams.
PREMA recovered from a challenging Free Practice session and delivered in Qualifying. By contrast, R-ace GP carried its earlier momentum into the session and managed Olivieri’s track position effectively.
Now, both drivers must turn their attention to the opening race. Nakamura-Berta will aim to control the field from pole, while Olivieri will look for an opportunity to challenge him on the run towards Monza’s first chicane.
