Following a short break in the calendar, the Formula 3 paddock returns to Spa-Francorchamps, one of motorsport’s most iconic and unpredictable circuits
Heading into qualifying, the tensions ran as high as the stakes. The Belgian GP was the penultimate weekend of the season, with just 7 points separating the top four in the Championship, setting the stage for a high-pressure weekend.
In a tense qualifying session, it was Callum Voisin of Rodin Motorsport who claimed pole position. MP Motorsport’s Alex Dunne and Trident’s Leonardo Fornaroli followed in second and third, respectively.
Sprint Race Recap
The reverse-grid format of the Sprint Race meant Beganovic and Minì would head the grid. However, Minì’s quick start and good tire traction led him to get ahead of his PREMA teammate. The wet conditions continued to prove challenging, as we soon saw American driver Max Esterson spin off and initiate a Safety Car.
As the race resumed, it was a battle of one challenge after another, with simultaneous threats to all three top positions. Leon swept past Browning to take fifth, Ramos took P3 from Tramnitz, and Beganovic reclaimed P1 from Minì. The final lap of the race was utter chaos, with intense fights for positions up until the chequered flag. In the end, the top 3 finishers were Beganovic, Minì and Leon, who fought fiercely to claim P3.
PREMA were the stars of the Sprint, with two drivers in the top 2 and a standout performance from Arvid Linblad, who made his way from the bottom of the grid in P27 to P12.
Feature Race Recap
The Sunday Feature Race commenced in the order of qualifying, with Voisin holding on to the lead after a good launch. Behind him, Dunne dropped to fourth while Montoya moved up to second. Fornaroli shortly managed to get around the outside of Montoya. At the back of the grid, second place Sprint finisher Gabrieli Minì spun after a three-car incident. The chaos continued into Lap 2 where a collision between Taponen and Stenshorne resulted in a DNF for the two drivers.
After a Safety Car, the race restarted, and with it, the moves and incidents. Dunne and Meguetounif fought for P4 with the latter coming out on top, thanks to a tow from his teammate. Meanwhile, an incident between Sophia Floersch and Joseph Loake saw them pair spin off into the gravel.
The second Safety Car restart was just as dramatic, with Dunne dropping to P10 and immediately battling Ramos for P9. Simultaneously, Linblad spun off after making contact with Mansell. Elsewhere on track, Mari Boya spun off into the barriers, leading to yet another Safety Car.
The race resumed once again, with the chequered flag being waved shortly after. The finishing order was comprised of polesitter, Voisin, followed by Montoya in second, and Fornaroli in P3.
What to expect this year
Last year, Spa-Francorchamps hosted incredible battles and captivating performances in Formula 3. It was on this weekend that the 2024 Championship winner, Fornaroli, took the lead. As we return to the Belgian GP once more, we can undoubtedly look forward to the same level of highly intense and skilled racing.
This year, we head into Spa following a challenging British GP. Rafael Câmara leads the Championship by a relatively comfortable 27 points. However, the rest of the standings are narrowly separated and will certainly make for a compelling weekend.
