Strong return on a demanding circuit

After a frustrating weekend in Monaco, Théophile Naël came back stronger than ever for the Barcelona Grand Prix, the fourth round of the FIA Formula 3 championship. On a technical circuit that reveals the true potential of the drivers, he demonstrated his consistency, composure, and pure talent, achieving a solid weekend and concluding with a magnificent podium.

Qualifying: A 4th place synonymous with performance and confidence

On Friday, the signs were positive. In ideal weather conditions, Théophile immediately found an excellent pace. In an extremely tight field, every tenth counts, and it was in his last flying lap that he set a time of 1’27’’161, placing him 4th in qualifying, just three tenths behind Rafael Câmara, who secured pole position.

👉 This performance confirms his ease in fast laps and assures him a strategic position for the main race on Sunday.

Sprint Race: A tactical climb to the Top 5

On Saturday, Théophile started in 8th position due to the Top 12 inversion rule. On this circuit where overtaking is far from simple, he adopted a smart and efficient approach.

🔹 Clean start, avoiding incidents
🔹 Good pace management mid-race
🔹 Precise overtakes after the Safety Car restart

After a controlled race, he crossed the finish line in 5th place, earning valuable points for the championship.

A performance that reflects his growing maturity and his ability to perform in different race scenarios.

Main Race: A well-deserved podium, a clear race

On Sunday, the main moment of the weekend: the main race. Positioned on the second row, Théophile made an excellent start and quickly positioned himself in the leading trio.

Mid-race, following a Safety Car intervention, he seized the perfect opportunity: with an aggressive restart and a brilliant overtake on the outside of turn 1 on Laurens van Hoepen, he took 2nd place.

🟢 He maintained this position until the end, with exemplary consistency, resisting pressure and avoiding the pitfalls of a tense finish.

🏁 Result: 2nd place finish, his second podium of the season after Melbourne, and unanimous praise in the paddock.

A rise in power, heading to Austria

After promising beginnings, followed by more complex weekends, Barcelona marks a decisive step in Théophile Naël's progression.

🎯 The team managed to adjust the settings to get the best out of the car.
🚀 Théophile confirms he is among the most promising rookies of the season.
🇦🇹 Next stop: the Red Bull Ring in Austria, a fast and hilly track, ideal for fully expressing his offensive style.