Bruno del Pino leads the 2026 F3 championship after claiming victory in a shortened Sprint Race at the Australian GP. The Van Amersfoort Racing driver headed teammate Enzo Deligny to secure a dominant one-two finish for the team before a red flag halted the race prematurely.
A heavy collision between PREMA teammates James Wharton and Louis Sharp forced officials to stop the race. As barrier repairs proved too extensive, race control abandoned the session and awarded half points only to the top five finishers.
Consequently, del Pino emerges as the early championship leader heading into Sunday’s Feature Race.
VAR capitalises in 2026 F3 Sprint Race as others miss out at Australian GP
Del Pino started from reverse-grid pole and converted the opportunity perfectly. He led comfortably in the early laps while Deligny secured second place to complete a controlled race for Van Amersfoort Racing.
Behind them, Brando Badoer climbed to third after an aggressive start, while Noah Strømsted and Taito Kato completed the top five. However, the early red flag meant that only those five drivers scored points.
As a result, del Pino leads the standings with five points, followed closely by Deligny on four. Badoer holds third with three points, while Strømsted and Kato take two and one point respectively.
Meanwhile, several expected title contenders remain scoreless. Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater both fought through the midfield but finished seventh and eighth, leaving them without points after the shortened scoring system.
Campos drivers poised for Feature Race opportunity
Despite the Sprint Race result, the championship picture could change quickly in Sunday’s Feature Race.
Campos Racing locked out the front row in qualifying, with Théophile Naël securing pole position with a 1:34.187 lap. Ugochukwu followed just 0.021 seconds behind after setting the pace earlier in Free Practice.
Furthermore, rookie Freddie Slater qualified third, with Maciej Gładysz and Nicola Lacorte completing the top five on the grid.
Therefore, while del Pino holds the early advantage, the Feature Race offers a crucial chance for several drivers to open their accounts. With full points on offer, the championship battle could shift dramatically before the Australian weekend concludes.
Drivers’ Standings after 2026 F3 Australian GP Sprint Race
- Bruno del Pino – 5 points
- Enzo Deligny – 4 points
- Brando Badoer – 3 points
- Noah Strømsted – 2 points
- Taito Kato – 1 point
Teams’ Standings after 2026 F3 Australian GP Sprint Race
- Van Amersfoort Racing – 9 points
- Rodin Motorsport – 3 points
- Trident – 2 points
- ART Grand Prix – 1 point
