A strong comeback on a demanding circuit
After a frustrating weekend in Monaco, Théophile Naël came back stronger than ever for the Barcelona Grand Prix, round four of the FIA Formula 3 Championship. On a technical circuit that reveals a driver’s true potential, he demonstrated his consistency, composure and sheer talent, putting in a solid weekend to finish on a magnificent podium.
Qualifying : 4th place means performance and confidence
By Friday, the signs were positive. Under ideal weather conditions, Théophile immediately found an excellent rhythm. In an extremely tight field, every tenth counts, and it was on his last flying lap that he set a time of 1’27 “” 161, placing him 4th in qualifying, just three tenths behind pole-setter Rafael Câmara.
👉 This performance confirms his ease on fast laps and secures him a strategic position for Sunday’s main race.
Sprint Race: A tactical climb to the Top 5
On Saturday, Théophile started in 8th position thanks to the Top 12 inversion rule. On this circuit, where overtaking is far from simple, he adopts an intelligent and effective approach.
🔹 Clean start, avoiding incidents
🔹 Good pace management in the middle of the race
🔹 Precise overtaking after the Safety Car restart
At the end of a well-controlled race, he crossed the finish line in 5th place, pocketing precious points for the championship.
A performance that reflects his growing maturity and ability to perform in different race scenarios.
Main race: A well-deserved podium, a clear race
Sunday was the highlight of the weekend: the main race. Placed on the second row, Théophile got off to an excellent start and was soon in the top three.
Halfway through the race, following an intervention by the Safety Car, he seized the perfect opportunity: thanks to an aggressive restart and a masterful overtake on the outside of Turn 1 on Laurens van Hoepen, he took 2nd place.
🟢 He held this position right to the end, with exemplary consistency, resisting the pressure and avoiding the pitfalls of a tense finish.
🏁 Result: 2nd place overall, second podium of the season after Melbourne, and unanimous praise from the paddock.
Ramping up for Austria
After a promising start, followed by more complex weekends, Barcelona marks a decisive stage in Théophile Naël’s progress.
🎯 The team knew how to adjust the settings to get the best out of the car.
🚀 Théophile confirms that he’s one of the season’s hottest rookies.
🇦🇹 Next stop: the Red Bull Ring in Austria, a fast and hilly track, ideal to fully express his offensive style.
Continue to follow Théophile in his quest for performance
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“Thank you for your invaluable support!” – Theophile
