The 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) delivered another tense qualifying session at Hockenheim, where fortunes swung sharply between triumph and frustration. Enzo Deligny, driving for R-ace GP, stamped his authority on the timing sheets with the outright fastest lap of the morning. However, his celebrations were tempered by a four-place grid penalty carried over from Barcelona, which pushed him back to fifth on the starting line. By contrast, Matteo De Palo of Trident Motorsport seized the moment, emerging as the fastest in Group B and therefore inheriting pole position for Race 1.
Both drivers, speaking after qualifying, revealed not only their immediate reactions but also their broader perspectives on the season. Deligny framed his challenge as one of resilience and recovery, while De Palo emphasised confidence, consistency, and control. Their words, rich with determination, underscored the fact that the Hockenheim weekend could prove pivotal in shaping the championship battle as it heads into its decisive final rounds.
Enzo Deligny shows resilience at pressure intensifies
For Enzo Deligny, the Hockenheim qualifying session demonstrated raw pace and technical precision. He had proven himself the fastest man on track, but his penalty transformed what should have been a commanding front-row start into a fifth-place grid slot. Rather than dwell on disappointment, Deligny spoke with a tone of composure and resolve. He made it clear that setbacks would not derail his ambition, and instead, he chose to highlight the strength of his team and the adaptability of their car. His comments placed emphasis on unity, determination, and readiness for every scenario.
“The team has done a fantastic job and the car is in a great window right now, so it’s always nice to be quick. This weekend we’re starting from the very front in tomorrow’s race, which is really important. The championship has been a bit tough for us with some lost points, so the goal is to win as many races as possible from here. For today I’ll start fifth, but if it rains anything can still happen at Hockenheim, so we’re confident. We showed in Barcelona that we’re fast in the wet as well, so whether it’s dry or raining we’re ready to fight.”
Matteo De Palo confident and in control
For Matteo De Palo, the Hockenheim weekend offered the opposite sensation: instead of recovering from lost ground, he stood on the front foot, knowing that pole position placed him in the best possible position to control the race. His comments reflected the relief and satisfaction of a driver who had executed qualifying perfectly while also showing awareness of the mounting pressure that comes with a title fight. De Palo’s tone combined ambition with pragmatism, as he pointed to both the immediate target of winning at Hockenheim and the larger goal of arriving at Monza with a cushion in the standings.
“It’s really important to be quickest in my group on both days, it gives me a lot of confidence for today’s race and also tomorrow’s. We’re heading into the final part of the championship, so every point matters, and the target is to build a margin before Monza. The fight is really close, so there’s going to be a lot of pressure at the last round, but for now the focus is on trying to win both races here at Hockenheim. As for the weather, in Germany it’s always unpredictable. We feel confident in both conditions. We’ve shown strong pace in the dry, so maybe that can be an advantage, but in the end the focus is on ourselves and doing our job.”
Contrasting mindsets from the front row
Enzo Deligny and Matteo De Palo approach Hockenheim with contrasting mindsets. Deligny treats it as a chance for recovery, while De Palo views it as an opportunity to consolidate his lead. Yet both recognise the unpredictability of the German circuit and the vital importance of points. One starts from pole, the other from fifth, but each is determined to leave with momentum.
