Maximilian "Max" Popov[b] (Russian: Максимилиан Попов; born 21 August 2008) is a Russian and Grenadian racing driver who currently competes under the Italian flag in the Formula Regional European Championship for Trident.
| Maximilian Popov | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Popov in 2025 | |
| Nationality |  Russian Grenadian Italian[a] |
| Born | 21 August 2008 Sochi, Russia |
| Formula Regional European Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2026 |
| Current team | Trident |
| Car number | 33 |
| Starts | 7 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | TBD in 2026 |
| Previous series | |
| 2026 2025 2025 2024 2024–2025 2024–2025 2024 | FR Middle East Eurocup-3 Formula Winter Series F4 CEZ Euro 4/E4 Italian F4 F4 UAE |
Popov previously competed in Italian F4 in 2025, finishing sixth.
Career
editKarting (2013–2023)
editPopov began karting at the age of five, competing until 2023.[2] In his karting career, he most notably finished runner-up in the 2022 WSK Champions Cup in the OK class with Ward Racing.[3] With the same team, Popov also was third in the 2019 WSK Final Cup and 2021 Champions of the Future in the 60 Mini and OK-J classes, respectively.[4][5]
Formula 4 (2024–2025)
edit2024
edit
Stepping up to single-seaters for 2024, Popov joined PHM AIX Racing to compete in the Formula 4 UAE Championship.[6] In the five-round winter series, Popov scored a best result of 11th in the second race of the second Yas Marina round and ended the season 27th in points.[7] For the rest of the year, Popov stayed with the team to compete in both the Italian F4 and Euro 4 Championships.[8][9] In the former, Popov scored a best result of eighth in race one at Barcelona, and ended the year 21st in the standings after taking three more points finishes.[10] In Euro 4, he scored two ninth-place finishes at Mugello and Red Bull Ring to end the season 21st in points.[11][12] During 2024, Popov also raced with the same team in the Red Bull Ring round of the Formula 4 CEZ Championship, in which he won race two.[13]
2025
edit.jpg)
In 2025, Popov switched to Van Amersfoort Racing for his sophomore season in Formula 4 competition.[14] Starting off the year in Formula Winter Series,[15] Popov finished third in the second race in the season-opening round at Algarve,[16] before repeating the same feat at round later in race three at Valencia.[17] In the following two rounds, Popov finished no higher than fourth as he ended the season sixth in points.[18] In the Italian series, Popov started off the season with two second-place finishes at Misano and a third-place finish at Vallelunga,[19][20][21] before not scoring points at Monza and only scoring a best result of fifth at Mugello to enter the second half of the season seventh in points.[7] In the final three rounds, Popov finished third in race two at Barcelona and repeated the same feat in race one at Misano to end the year sixth in points.[22][23] Popov also raced in the three-round E4 Championship for the same team, scoring a lone podium at Mugello en route to an eighth-place points finish.[24]
Formula Regional (2026)
edit2025
edit2026
editAt the start of 2026, Popov joined Trident to compete in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy.[27] In the four-round season, Popov scored a pair of third-place finishes in the first two Yas Marina rounds to take seventh in the overall standings.[28] Popov remained with Trident for the rest of the year to race in the Formula Regional European Championship.[29]
Karting record
editKarting career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | WSK Super Master Series – 60 Mini | Babyrace Driver Academy | 95th |
| Trofeo Delle Industrie – 60 Mini | 28th | ||
| ROK Cup International Final – Mini Rok | 16th | ||
| WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | 46th | ||
| 2018 | WSK Champions Cup – 60 Mini | Parolin Motorsport | 16th |
| South Garda Winter Cup – Mini Rok | 12th | ||
| WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | 17th | ||
| WSK Super Master Series – 60 Mini | Parolin Motorsport Praga Junior Team[c] |
33rd | |
| 2019 | WSK Champions Cup – 60 Mini | Baby Race Driver Academy | 17th |
| WSK Super Master Series – 60 Mini | 4th | ||
| South Garda Winter Cup – Mini Rok | 5th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – 60 Mini | 20th | ||
| ROK Cup International Final – Mini Rok | 17th | ||
| WSK Open Cup – 60 Mini | 29th | ||
| WSK Final Cup – 60 Mini | 3rd | ||
| 2020 | WSK Champions Cup – OK-J | Ward Racing | 10th |
| WSK Super Master Series – OK-J | 46th | ||
| 2021 | WSK Champions Cup – OK-J | Ward Racing | 4th |
| WSK Super Master Series – OK-J | 8th | ||
| Champions of the Future – OK-J | 3rd | ||
| Karting European Championship – OK-J | 20th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – OK-J | 25th | ||
| Karting World Championship – OK-J | 7th | ||
| South Garda Winter Cup – OK-J | 5th | ||
| WSK Final Cup – OK-J | 4th | ||
| 2022 | WSK Champions Cup – OK | Ward Racing | 2nd |
| WSK Super Master Series – OK | 15th | ||
| Champions of the Future Euro Series – OK | 54th | ||
| Karting European Championship – OK | Ward Racing Koski Motorsport[d] |
37th | |
| WSK Euro Series – OK | Koski Motorsport | 25th | |
| Karting World Championship – OK | 29th | ||
| WSK Open Cup – OK | 21st | ||
| WSK Final Cup – OK | 16th | ||
| 2023 | South Garda Winter Cup – OK | Koski Motorsport | 7th |
| WSK Champions Cup – OK | 6th | ||
| WSK Super Master Series – OK | Koski Motorsport KR Motorsport[e] |
27th | |
| Karting European Championship – OK | Koski Motorsport KR Motorsport[f] |
27th | |
| Karting World Championship – OK | Kart Republic Motorsport | NC | |
| Sources:[30][31] | |||
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Formula 4 UAE Championship | PHM AIX Racing | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27th |
| Italian F4 Championship | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 21st | ||
| Formula 4 CEZ Championship | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 11th | ||
| Euro 4 Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 21st | ||
| 2025 | Formula Winter Series | Van Amersfoort Racing | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 6th |
| Italian F4 Championship | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 143 | 6th | ||
| E4 Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 8th | ||
| Eurocup-3 | GRS Team | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | |
| 2026 | Formula Regional Middle East Trophy | Trident | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 70 | 7th |
| Formula Regional European Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8* | 10th* | ||
| Sources:[32][30] | |||||||||
* Season still in progress.
Complete Formula 4 UAE Championship results
editComplete Italian F4 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | PHM AIX Racing | MIS 1 21 |
MIS 2 13 |
MIS 3 13 |
IMO 1 15 |
IMO 2 15 |
IMO 3 26 |
VLL 1 28† |
VLL 2 13 |
VLL 3 15 |
MUG 1 18 |
MUG 2 14 |
MUG 3 16 |
LEC 1 18 |
LEC 2 Ret |
LEC 3 9 |
CAT 1 8 |
CAT 2 10 |
CAT 3 21 |
MNZ 1 Ret |
MNZ 2 9 |
MNZ 3 27 |
21st | 9 | ||||
| 2025 | Van Amersfoort Racing | MIS1 1 |
MIS1 2 2 |
MIS1 3 4 |
MIS1 4 2 |
VLL 1 |
VLL 2 6 |
VLL 3 3 |
VLL 4 22 |
MNZ 1 17 |
MNZ 2 29 |
MNZ 3 15 |
MUG 1 12 |
MUG 2 26 |
MUG 3 5 |
IMO 1 11 |
IMO 2 C |
IMO 3 6 |
CAT 1 11 |
CAT 2 3 |
CAT 3 C |
MIS2 1 3 |
MIS2 2 5 |
MIS2 3 |
MIS2 4 5 |
MIS2 5 8 |
6th | 143 |
Complete Formula 4 CEZ Championship results
editComplete Euro 4/E4 Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | PHM AIX Racing | MUG 1 12 |
MUG 2 19 |
MUG 3 9 |
RBR 1 14 |
RBR 2 9 |
RBR 3 12 |
MNZ 1 20 |
MNZ 2 14 |
MNZ 3 27 |
21st | 4 |
| 2025 | Van Amersfoort Racing | LEC 1 24† |
LEC 2 6 |
LEC 3 26† |
MUG 1 3 |
MUG 2 8 |
MUG 3 16 |
MNZ 1 4 |
MNZ 2 7 |
MNZ 3 14 |
8th | 45 |
Complete Formula Winter Series results
editComplete Eurocup-3 results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | GRS Team | RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
POR 1 |
POR SR |
POR 2 |
LEC 1 |
LEC SR |
LEC 2 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
ASS 1 |
ASS 2 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
JER 1 |
JER 2 |
CAT 1 10 |
CAT 2 19 |
NC† | 0 |
† As Popov was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
Complete Formula Regional Middle East Trophy results
editComplete Formula Regional European Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trident | RBR 1 6 |
RBR 2 11 |
RBR 3 11 |
ZAN 1 18 |
ZAN 2 Ret |
SPA 1 18 |
SPA 2 C |
SPA 3 1 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
MNZ 3 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
IMO 1 |
IMO 2 |
IMO 3 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
8th* | 35* |
* Season still in progress.
Notes
edit- ↑ Popov is Russian-Grenadian and competes under an Italian licence.[1]
- ↑ Sometimes spelled Maksimilian Popov.
- ↑ Popov competed for Parolin Motorsport in rounds 1–3 and for Praga Junior Team in round 4.
- ↑ Popov competed for Ward Racing in rounds 1–3 and for Koski Motorsport in round 4.
- ↑ Popov competed for Koski Motorsport in round 1 and for KR Motorsport in round 4.
- ↑ Popov competed for Koski Motorsport in round 1 and for KR Motorsport in rounds 3–4.
References
edit- ↑ "Elenco Verificati (Admitted List)" (PDF). ACI Sport. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Maximilian Popov". vanamersfoortracing.nl. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "WSK Champions Cup : impressionnante victoire finale de Carenini en OK". kartcom.com. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "MINI: Matveev repeates victory in WSK Final Cup". tkart.it. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "OK/OKJ World Championship Preview in Spain". vroomkart.com. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "F4 UAE: 2024 season guide". feederseries.net. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- 1 2 "The late bloomers in Italian F4 making the most of their second seasons". feederseries.net. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Italian F4: 2024 season guide". feederseries.net. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Euro 4: 2024 season guide". feederseries.net. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Freddie Slater takes 12th Italian F4 triumph of 2024". formulascout.com. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Bohra scores second win to leave Mugello leading Euro 4 standings". formulascout.com. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Slater pushes past Stolcermanis to dominate and take Euro 4 lead". formulascout.com. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "PHM Racing drivers share wins in F4 CEZ round two at the Red Bull Ring". formulascout.com. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Команда Ф-4 Van Amersfoort Racing объявила о подписании контракта с Максимилианом Поповым". championat.com (in Russian). 18 December 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Formula Winter Series: 2025 season guide". feederseries.net. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ Allen, Peter (1 February 2025). "Gomez sees off Robinsons' challenges for second FWinter Series win". Formula Scout. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ Wood, Ida (16 February 2025). "Hitech GP's Leo Robinson wins FWinter Series' third Valencia race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Italian F4: 2025 season guide". feederseries.net. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Россиянин поднялся на подиум гонки итальянской Формулы-4 в Мизано". championat.com (in Russian). 3 May 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Nakamura-Berta completes perfect start to Italian F4 season". formulascout.com. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Sebastian Wheldon wins Italian F4's third heat race at Vallelunga". formulascout.com. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gomez bounces back to take Barcelona Italian F4 win". formulascout.com. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Wheldon wins Italian F4 race one, Nakamura one point away from title". formulascout.com. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Nakamura wins E4 race one at Mugello to level up title fight". formulascout.com. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ Wood, Ida (11 November 2025). "Russian pair Belov and Popov join grid of Eurocup-3 season finale". Formula Scout. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ "Sztuka streaks to victory in Eurocup-3's first Barcelona race". formulascout.com. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ "Formula Regional Middle East Trophy: 2026 season guide". Feeder Series. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ↑ "FRegional's Gen2 era starts with three victors and big crash in Abu Dhabi". formulascout.com. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Maximilian Popov completes Trident's 2026 FREC line-up". formulascout.com. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Maksimilian Popov | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ Kartcom. "Popov Maksimilian". Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Maksimilian Popov Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
External links
edit- Maximilian Popov career summary at DriverDB.com
- Official website