It looked like something out of Hollywood. A red Formula 1, without plates, without indicators, without rear-view mirrors, swallowing up the kilometers on the Czech D4 freeway, under the stunned eyes of motorists. For several years, this mysterious single-seater had been a regular visitor to this stretch of road, always eluding the police. But this time, the ghost driver failed to outrun the police: he was finally arrested, after an operation worthy of an action movie.
An urban legend
Since 2018, the famous "red formula" has been haunting the freeway southwest of Prague. In 2019 and again in 2022, spectacular videos had circulated: the single-seater, resembling a Ferrari F1 car, racing at full speed through the traffic. Always helmeted, always elusive, the driver remained a mystery.
Last August, new images again showed the car on the D4. The Czech police issued a series of appeals for witnesses, but many doubted that the investigation would be successful.
The hunt intensifies
According to the Czech media outlet Blesk, on the morning of September 7, 2025, all hell broke loose. Several motorists alerted the police: the single-seater had been seen at a service station near Dobříš, before speeding off down the freeway. This time, the police left nothing to chance. Patrols were deployed, and even an air police helicopter was mobilized. After a breathless pursuit, the formula was intercepted in the village of Buk u Příbrami, accompanied by other sports cars.
On board, police discovered a 51-year-old man wearing a racing suit and helmet. His identity is verified, but he refuses to comment on the situation.
A rare prototype linked to Ferrari
The single-seater was no mere replica cobbled together in a garage. According to those close to the driver, it was a Ferrari Dallara GPF1 prototype from 2006, a rare chassis used for private testing. Kimi Räikkönen himself is said to have tested one of the two existing examples. Since 2019, the owner has been documenting his escapades on the YouTube channel Trackzone, without anyone managing to stop him... until now.
Future penalties for the driver
The case has been referred to the administrative department. The driver is facing a fine of several thousand euros and a withdrawal of his driving licence. The vehicle was neither approved nor insured, and could not be driven on open roads under any circumstances. Despite this, police say the man was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of his arrest.
While the Czech police are pleased with the heavy-handed operation, some are calling it an overreaction. The driver's son, Lukáš, denounced the operation as a "staged event", with around 15 police cars and two helicopters surrounding his house. For him, these demonstrations were nothing more than a way of "letting off steam" without any real danger, and even provided a bit of entertainment for motorists.
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