The two-day F3 test concludes with excellent performances from rookies and Italian drivers
The curtain falls on the two-day FIA Formula 3 Championship test at the Red Bull Ring, with drivers and teams now set to return to action in Monte Carlo for the second round of the championship. Just like on Day 1, rookies impressed on track, while the Italian trio of Brando Badoer, Nicola Lacorte and Matteo De Palo delivered another solid showing. Here’s what happened during the second day of testing.
Another strong day for the Italians
Day 1 leader Ugo Ugochukwu finished only 20th, handing the top spot over to another rookie. It was not Freddie Slater — although he still secured an excellent fifth place — but Taito Kato who set the fastest time with a 1:20.297, just ahead of Louis Sharp (+0.025), who appears to have recovered very well from the injury suffered in Melbourne. The Nordic duo of Noah Strømsted and Tuukka Taponen once again featured near the top of the standings, though in reverse order compared to Day 1: the Dane ahead in third (+0.039), followed by the Finn in fourth (+0.114).
If rallying had the famous “Flying Finns”, these two days of F3 testing featured the “Flying Rookies”. Alongside Kato, five more rookies finished inside the Top 10: Pedro Clerot and Hiyu Yamakoshi confirmed their strong Day 1 pace by finishing sixth (+0.198) and seventh (+0.204) respectively. Enzo Deligny and Maciej Gładysz completed the Top 10 in ninth (+0.352) and tenth (+0.360). The rookie wave was interrupted only by Brando Badoer, who secured a solid eighth place at +0.310. Just outside the Top 10 was Nicola Lacorte (11th, +0.374), while Matteo de Palo ended the day in 15th (+0.548), completing another positive day for the Italian contingent.
Kato’s comments
“Today was much better than yesterday, when we had basically no grip,” commented Kato. “The car felt significantly better and we focused mainly on race pace, which was the area we needed most.” Now that testing is complete, the Japanese driver is eager to start racing again: “I’ve never been to Monte Carlo, but I can’t wait. I’ll practice a lot on the simulator.” Despite having no experience whatsoever on the streets of the Principality, the ART Grand Prix driver remains confident: “I performed well in Macau — I was fifth among the rookies — so I feel confident on street circuits.”
Below is the full classification from Day 2 of the F3 tests.
| Pos | Driver | Nat | Team | Time | Gap | S/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taito Kato | JPN | ART Grand Prix | 1:20.297 | — | AM |
| 2 | Louis Sharp | NZL | PREMA Racing | 1:20.322 | +0.025 | AM |
| 3 | Noah Stromsted | DEN | TRIDENT | 1:20.336 | +0.039 | AM |
| 4 | Tuukka Taponen | FIN | MP Motorsport | 1:20.411 | +0.114 | AM |
| 5 | Freddie Slater | GBR | TRIDENT | 1:20.427 | +0.130 | AM |
| 6 | Pedro Clerot | BRA | Rodin Motorsport | 1:20.495 | +0.198 | AM |
| 7 | Hiyu Yamakoshi | JPN | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:20.501 | +0.204 | AM |
| 8 | Brando Badoer | ITA | Rodin Motorsport | 1:20.607 | +0.310 | AM |
| 9 | Enzo Deligny | FRA | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:20.649 | +0.352 | AM |
| 10 | Maciej Gladysz | POL | ART Grand Prix | 1:20.657 | +0.360 | AM |
| 11 | Nicola Lacorte | ITA | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:20.671 | +0.374 | AM |
| 12 | Bruno Del Pino | ESP | Van Amersfoort Racing | 1:20.704 | +0.407 | AM |
| 13 | Theophile Nael | FRA | Campos Racing | 1:20.820 | +0.523 | AM |
| 14 | James Wharton | AUS | PREMA Racing | 1:20.843 | +0.546 | AM |
| 15 | Matteo de Palo | ITA | TRIDENT | 1:20.845 | +0.548 | AM |
| 16 | Jin Nakamura | JPN | Hitech | 1:20.846 | +0.549 | AM |
| 17 | Fionn McLaughlin | IRL | Hitech | 1:20.857 | +0.560 | AM |
| 18 | Mattia Colnaghi | ARG | MP Motorsport | 1:20.873 | +0.576 | AM |
| 19 | Brad Benavides | USA | AIX Racing | 1:20.899 | +0.602 | AM |
| 20 | Ugo Ugochukwu | USA | Campos Racing | 1:20.900 | +0.603 | AM |
| 21 | Jose Garfias | MEX | PREMA Racing | 1:20.937 | +0.640 | AM |
| 22 | Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi | THA | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:20.943 | +0.646 | AM |
| 23 | Ernesto Rivera | MEX | Campos Racing | 1:20.948 | +0.651 | AM |
| 24 | Alessandro Giusti | FRA | MP Motorsport | 1:21.013 | +0.716 | AM |
| 25 | Kanato Le | JPN | ART Grand Prix | 1:21.057 | +0.760 | AM |
| 26 | Yevan David | SRI | AIX Racing | 1:21.125 | +0.828 | AM |
| 27 | Woohyun Shin | KOR | Hitech | 1:21.143 | +0.846 | AM |
| 28 | Genaro Trappa | ARG | Rodin Motorsport | 1:21.261 | +0.964 | AM |
| 29 | Gerrard Xie | CHN | DAMS Lucas Oil | 1:21.323 | +1.026 | AM |
| 30 | Fernando Barrichello | BRA | AIX Racing | 1:21.376 | +1.079 | AM |
Foto: X @Formula3
