“I'm Trying to Stay Focused on My Driving and Maximizing Efficiency.” Oleksandr Bondarev on His First Formula 4 Race
Oleksandr Bondarev's interview on recovering from his crash, fan support, and working with Williams.
Ukrainian Formula 4 driver Oleksandr Bondarev gave an extensive interview to the Brazilian YouTube channel "Braking Zone F1," in which he spoke about his journey to single-seater racing. In September 2023, the driver became the first Ukrainian to sign a contract with a Formula 1 team, and made his debut in Formula 4.
On the 2022 European Championship Crash
Early in the conversation, the interviewers touched on Oleksandr's crash at the 2022 European Championship in Spain: the Ukrainian suffered severe leg injuries and underwent 11 surgeries. The incident could have ended his motorsport career, but Bondarev returned to the track just five months later.
After the incident, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc voiced his support for Oleksandr. The Monégasque driver wished Bondarev a speedy recovery, mentioned the war in Ukraine, and said he hoped to one day see him in Formula 1.
The interviewers compared the Ukrainian's recovery from the crash to a phoenix rising from the ashes, and Bondarev himself to Johnny Herbert.
“This situation is similar to Johnny Herbert's story in Formula 3000. He was in a serious crash, broke both legs, came back, and then went on to race in Formula 1."
On Working with Williams and Prema
Oleksandr noted that the most important moments of his career so far have been his European Championship win and signing with Williams. The driver also explained why he chose to join that particular team.
"We chose Williams because I felt their project was very promising and that it would be the best place for me as a driver. I'm very happy with the decision we made."
"Prema, meanwhile, is a great team in everything they do. They've taught me a lot, and working with them has been an important step in my development."
On His First Races and the Challenges of Formula 4
Oleksandr also reflected on his Formula 4 debut, sharing some of the difficulties he faced during the race.
"It was my first race, and we had technical issues that made me miss one of the free practice sessions. One practice session is nowhere near enough to prepare, especially when you don't have much experience."
"I think that with the pace we had in the race, I could have easily made the top 10," Bondarev suggested.
On Fan Support
Oleksandr Bondarev is the first Ukrainian driver in Formula history. The athlete has a fan base of over 30,000 followers on Instagram alone. At the same time, the driver noted that while he draws inspiration from that support, he also feels pressure from fans.
"I try not to think about it too much, because there really is a lot of pressure. I don't know how to make everything perfect, so I'm trying to stay focused on my driving and maximizing the efficiency that I can't quite get out of myself right now."
On the Next Race in Monza, Italy
Next up for the Ukrainian driver is the final round of the F4 Italian Championship, taking place in Monza October 25–27. Oleksandr said he expects his results to improve.
"I'll have a test in Monza. The official one is on the 13th and 14th of October. That's when we'll be able to see our pace. Also, overtaking will be much easier in Monza because the track has long straights — that will make the race more interesting."
Near the end of the conversation, one of the interviewers sang the Ukrainian national anthem. The full video of the episode is available at this link.