Brando Badoer left Barcelona with renewed confidence after securing two top-10 finishes during Round 3 of the 2026 F3 season. The Rodin Motorsport driver followed his Monte Carlo Feature Race victory with another productive weekend. He collected points in both races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and finished fourth in Sunday’s Feature Race.
As a result, Badoer maintained his strong championship position while Rodin extended its impressive points-scoring run. The Italian now heads to the Red Bull Ring believing that both he and the team can continue challenging near the front.
Badoer welcomes strong 2026 F3 Barcelona results
Badoer entered the weekend knowing Barcelona would present a different challenge from the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. Nevertheless, he and Rodin adapted quickly and secured another valuable points haul.
While speaking to Formula 3, the Italian expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency throughout the championship.
“I feel good, I think we made a strong weekend with the team. Coming here, we knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as in Monaco, but still we got away with a good haul of points which is important in a championship.
“Double points finish, P4 on Grand Prix Sunday, definitely satisfied that the team has been working well. I drove a good race and I’m looking forward to the Red Bull Ring in a couple of weeks.”
His fourth-place finish also strengthened his position in the Drivers’ Championship. Badoer now sits fifth in the standings ahead of the next round in Spielberg.
Tyre management shapes Sunday’s Feature Race
While Badoer showed strong pace throughout the weekend, tyre management played a decisive role in Sunday’s result. High temperatures and the demanding characteristics of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya forced drivers to protect their tyres carefully. Therefore, Badoer focused on preserving his Hard-compound Pirelli tyres during the opening stages.
Rather than pushing aggressively from the start, he controlled his pace and kept enough tyre performance for the closing laps.
“It’s always a bit strategic on the Grand Prix Sundays because of course the race is longer here in Barcelona, you drive the track and you know it’ll be in high temperatures.
“I tried to manage the initial part of the race, and I had some juice left for the end which I was able to use passing a couple of cars and finishing P4.”
The strategy worked effectively. Badoer increased his pace during the second half of the race, completed several overtakes and climbed to fourth place before the chequered flag.
Rodin extends its points-scoring streak
Badoer’s result also continued Rodin Motorsport’s consistent start to the campaign. The British-based team has scored points in every race since the opening Sprint Race in Melbourne. That consistency has allowed Rodin to build momentum across the first three rounds.
Furthermore, Badoer believes the team can maintain its run when the championship travels to Austria. He remains focused on fighting for victories while maximising every opportunity when a win falls out of reach.
“We are here to win and to maximise the results when we can’t win. That’s what we wanted at the beginning of the season as well as what we were preparing for in the pre-season testing.
“I know I have the potential to do it, and I believe the team has the potential to do it as well. As I’ve always said, I’m feeling really strong with the team, it feels like a family to me so you know we all keep pushing in the same direction and let’s see what the outcome will be at the end.”
Spielberg offers the next opportunity
Badoer will now turn his attention to Round 4 at the Red Bull Ring. His recent results have placed him firmly among the leading championship contenders. More importantly, his victory in Monaco and fourth-place finish in Barcelona have demonstrated his ability to perform strongly on very different circuits.
Rodin’s continued consistency should also provide a solid foundation for the Austrian weekend. Consequently, Badoer will arrive in Spielberg aiming to extend his points-scoring run and return to the podium.
