Campos Racing driver Théophile Naël delivered a standout performance during Qualifying at the 2026 F3 Australian Grand Prix, securing his first pole position in the championship. The French driver produced a decisive lap of 1:34.187 at Albert Park to edge teammate Ugo Ugochukwu by just 0.021 seconds, sealing a front-row lockout for the Spanish squad. During a post-Qualifying press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Naël discussed his thoughts on the session and the weekend ahead.
Naël claims pole after tricky F3 Qualifying at 2026 Australian GP
Although the result marked an impressive start to the season, Naël’s route to pole proved anything but straightforward. Track limits infringements, disrupted runs, and mounting pressure forced the Campos driver to adapt quickly throughout the session. Nevertheless, when the decisive moment arrived in the closing stages, Naël delivered the lap that mattered most.
Reflecting on the demanding session, he explained just how challenging the path to pole had been.
“Yeah, it has been a tough Quali for me, really stressful. I didn’t manage to complete the lap at the beginning of the Quali. It was a bit of a sequence in the second run as well, so I had to give everything in the last run. I did out, push, so a bit unusual sequence for F3, but it worked well. I’m really happy we are 1-2 for the team, so looking forward to the weekend.”
Frustration before the final breakthrough
Earlier in the session, Naël had already experienced setbacks that left him playing catch-up compared with several rivals. His initial lap time disappeared due to track limits, while the following run failed to produce the improvement he needed.
As a result, he faced an anxious wait in the pit lane while the team prepared a final attempt on fresh tyres. During that period, the pressure steadily increased, especially with limited time remaining in the session.
Despite the frustration, Naël remained focused on delivering when the final opportunity arrived.
“Yeah, it’s very, very tough. For me, it was a bit frustrating in the pit lane, waiting for the second set of tyres to close the lap because I wanted to be safe. But unfortunately, the second run didn’t go as planned, so I had to refocus for the last one. It worked well, but it was really stressful until the last lap.”
As the session entered its decisive moments, Naël knew his final lap would determine his starting position. Therefore, he focused on resetting mentally and delivering a clean run rather than chasing perfection.
“Well, for sure, the pressure was there,” he said when asked by Pit Debrief about the pressure he faced to deliver his final lap after a difficult session. “It was pushing me the whole Quali. After that mistake, I had to just reset my mind. Take it easy again. Restart from zero, let’s say. And just complete the lap. We know that F3 is more like complete a 98% lap than a 100% lap. So, yeah, I also had quite a bit of slipstream in the last lap. That helped me quite a lot.”
Confidence built during pre-season testing
While the session itself proved difficult, Naël entered the Melbourne weekend with strong confidence following productive pre-season testing. Campos Racing had already shown encouraging pace, which gave the young driver belief that he could challenge near the front. Consequently, despite the early difficulties in Qualifying, he trusted the potential of both the car and the team.
“For sure, it’s very, very positive. Pre-season testing has been great as well. It was quite good for the team. So, I was confident coming into this first run. I was expecting to be at the top, maybe not on pole, but to be in pole for the first run, it’s super nice.”
He also stressed the importance of maintaining the right balance between confidence and composure at the opening round of the season.
“Well, I think, for sure, we all have to be confident coming into this weekend. That’s the first race of the season, so we have to be confident. But, as well, we have to stay calm. And, like I said, take it easy. I wasn’t expecting to be on pole today, to be honest, during the Quali. So, yeah, now just take it easy. And I think it’s important to start the season like that.”
Naël aiming to learn from the Sprint Race after topping F3 Qualifying at 2026 Australian GP
Although pole position secures Naël the best possible starting position for Sunday’s Feature Race, his immediate attention now turns to Saturday’s Sprint Race. With the reversed-grid format placing him further down the order, the Campos Racing driver plans to approach the race with a measured mindset.
Rather than taking unnecessary risks early in the weekend, Naël intends to focus on gathering information that could prove crucial for the longer Feature Race. He explained this in response to a question by Pit Debrief.
“Well, like both drivers [Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater] said, trying to maximise everything for the weekend in terms of points. Don’t take too much risk into the Sprint Race. And, yeah, I have to say that the Feature Race is the most important race of the weekend. So, let’s learn tomorrow as much as I can. It will be the first race of the year as well. So, take it easy. Don’t risk too much and, yeah, plan for Sunday.”
Since he will start 12th on the grid for the Sprint Race, Naël also views the race as a valuable opportunity to observe tyre behaviour and race conditions during the opening round of the season.
“Yeah, for me, I would say my mindset for tomorrow is to see how the tyres develop, to have a clear idea for Sunday race, Feature Race. So, yeah, I’m going to try to move up into the standing, but yeah, take it easy, take it safe. The Sprint Race is always a bit chaotic, so starting from 12th, it’s going to be a fun race.”
Enjoying the challenge of F3
Beyond the result itself, Naël emphasised how much he enjoys competing in F3 and racing at Albert Park, a circuit that presents a unique challenge for the drivers.
“So, to answer this question, this track is amazing. It’s amazing to come here for the first run. It’s such a typical track. It’s so far from Europe. So, to race here is amazing. Those F3 cars are, I think, really fun to drive as well. So, yeah, I’m enjoying a lot to drive into this championship and, yeah, taking some experience for the future.”
With pole secured and confidence growing, Naël now looks ahead to the remainder of the Melbourne weekend, where he hopes to convert a hard-earned Qualifying result into a strong start to the 2026 F3 season.
