How does a Formula 3 race weekend unfold?

Formula 3 has the privilege of competing alongside the prestigious Formula 1. During each Grand Prix weekend, Théophile Naël can showcase all his talent before hundreds of thousands of spectators at the circuits and millions of motorsport enthusiasts around the world.

A Formula 3 weekend follows a well-defined format, structured around three main stages:

Free Practice

During this session of about 45 minutes, the drivers discover the track, test the limits of their car, and fine-tune the settings to optimize their performance.

Qualifying

During 30 intense minutes, the drivers attempt to clock the best possible lap time. The ranking of this session is crucial: it determines the starting grid for the main race on Sunday.

The Races

The weekend is punctuated by two races:

• The Sprint Race (Saturday) Run over a shorter distance, it uses a reverse grid system for the top 12 from qualifying (the 12th starts in pole position). Fewer points are awarded than in the main race, but it’s an important opportunity to gain results.

• The Main Race (Sunday) Longer and more strategic, it strictly follows the order of qualifying. It is the highlight of the weekend, awarding the most points for the championship.

👉 You can follow all Formula 3 races and qualifying live on CANAL+.

A challenging Friday of qualifying for Théophile

In Bahrain, the qualifying did not go as hoped for Théophile Naël. After an excellent start that placed him 6th, he was unfortunately hindered by traffic during his final fast attempt. The result: a distant position on the grid, in 22nd place, far from the front rows dominated by Rafael Câmara.

A disappointment for our young driver, who thus saw his ambitions for the weekend seriously compromised.

Sprint Race: promising starts spoiled by mechanical failure

On Saturday, Théophile was determined to climb up the ranks. Thanks to a series of spectacular overtakes, he rose to 13th place in just eight laps. An impressive pace that hinted at a return to scoring points.

However, the mechanics had other plans. Victim of a technical issue, Théophile was forced to retire early. A major frustration for the whole team, especially since the potential for a result was clearly present.

Main Race: a steely mindset under scorching heat

On Sunday, during the main race, Théophile once again demonstrated his talent and fighting spirit. Starting 30th due to technical issues, he executed a superb comeback in an extremely competitive pack to finish in 15th place.

With temperatures exceeding 45 degrees on the track for nearly 50 minutes, the physical and mental performance required was immense. Thanks to his preparation with 321 Perform, Théophile managed to stay clear-headed, focused, and performant despite the extreme conditions.

“Thank you to 321 Perform, my physical trainer, for this preparation that allowed me to be clear-headed and remain focused despite the lack of water and the heat during the race.” – Théophile Naël

The second Frenchman engaged in Formula 3, Théophile confirms his ability to compete at the highest level, with impressive maturity.