At the halfway point of the 2025 Formula 3 season, Rafael Câmara continues to lead the championship after a demanding triple header across Imola, Monaco, and Barcelona. The TRIDENT rookie has combined moments of brilliance with valuable lessons, keeping himself firmly in title contention.
Imola
The triple header began with F3’s return to Europe. Imola, a track which many drivers are familiar with, is a chance to see the true potential of many on the grid. For Câmara, it was a weekend of mixed fortunes.
The TRIDENT driver started the weekend off in style by continuing his run of pole positions in the series, remaining as the only F3 pole sitter in 2025 after 3 rounds of competition. A dominant pole lap from Câmara set expectations for another commanding Feature Race performance. However, the Brazilian attempted to break DRS early in the race. He was pushing hard on his tyres, which ultimately could not last until the end of the race.
“I was too confident I could break the DRS, and I pushed too much on the tyres. After I got the drop, you lose the grip.”
He was forced to settle for P3 after struggling with tyre degradation in the closing stages. Despite the disappointment, Câmara’s ability to secure a podium and crucial championship points has kept him in the fight.
Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix proved to be one of the most difficult weekends for Câmara, as he faced it all and came away without a podium finish for the first time in F3.
After 4 rounds of F3, Câmara’s pole position streak was broken as Campos’ Nikola Tsolov claimed P1 in Monte Carlo. After qualifying in eighth, Câmara was handed a grid drop for both races, making his task of securing a good points haul much harder. However, he managed to recover and finish seventh in the Sprint.
In the feature race, he was not as lucky. As the race drew to a close, Câmara lost a tyre to cause his second DNF of the season. This was a key blow for the Brazilian, as, although he remained the championship leader, the gap to his rivals behind got to a slim 13 points.
However, Câmara’s ability to score points despite a hard weekend emphasised his consistency in tough conditions.
Barcelona
The final round of the triple header was a complete shift from the rounds prior. Câmara made history on the Friday of the Spanish Grand Prix. The TRIDENT Driver claimed a historic fourth pole position, the most of any F3 driver in the series’ history. This was a much-needed confidence boost following the difficulties he faced, particularly in Monaco.
“It was quite relaxed for me this weekend. Already after FP, it gave me some confidence for Quali. The team did a very good job of placing me well, especially in set two, where I was fully alone.”
However, the Sprint Race brought another learning moment for the rookie. After a slow start, Câmara collected his fellow Ferrari junior driver Taponen at Turn 1. A move which Câmara described as “stupid” forced him to retire due to damage sustained to the car.
“It was quite, in a way, stupid from my side. I didn’t have a good launch. I was looking to the sides and then once I looked in front, it was too late.”
With the lessons learnt, Câmara set his eyes on his strong point for much of this season, the feature race. He bounced back immediately with yet another lights-out to chequered flag victory. A commanding win from Câmara showcased the hard work and lessons learnt throughout the triple header. Particularly lessons about managing tyre degradation.
“A very good race, it went very smoothly. I was just thinking about tyres the whole time, especially after what happened in Imola. Then, good Safety Car restarts, and we got the win.”
Focusing on the championship
Despite the setbacks, Câmara’s performances, particularly in Barcelona, showed an impressive ability to recover quickly. He’s been almost untouchable in qualifying, securing pole in four of the opening five rounds.
However, Câmara knows that if he wants to win this championship his sprint race performances must improve substantially. In the opening five rounds, he scored 4 points in sprint races, with most of his points haul coming from feature race wins and fastest lap bonuses.
“The Sprint Race has been a weak point, something I need to work on. Now just head down, I’ll keep working with the team and see where we can improve.”
Physically, the intensity of the triple header hasn’t left him burnt out. Rather, the championship leader is preparing for the next round of competition in Austria.
“For myself, I don’t feel very tired after these three races. For me, we could keep going because I am not very tired. It will be a boring month waiting for the next round.”
As Formula 3 returns this weekend in the Red Bull Ring, Câmara and TRIDENT will be eager to continue their good fortune in the series. However, they would no doubt be working on strategies to optimise Sprint Race performances as the championship battle heats up.
