Ernesto Rivera believes his previous success at Monza can help him navigate an F3 weekend set to feature a significant slipstream effect, split Qualifying and an additional DRS zone. The Campos Racing rookie returns to the Italian circuit a little over a year after winning the opening Eurocup-3 race there. Rivera and fellow 2026 F3 rookie Mattia Colnaghi shared the victories during that 2025 Monza weekend, with the Mexican taking Race 1 before Colnaghi won Race 2.
Rivera has since established himself as a front-runner during his first F3 campaign. He sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship on 72 points after taking his maiden victory at Spielberg and adding a Feature Race win at Spa-Francorchamps.
Rivera expects split Monza Qualifying to reduce traffic problems
F3 will return to the two-group Qualifying format previously used at Monaco, with 15 drivers participating in each 10-minute session rather than all 30 contesting the usual half-hour format.
During a virtual media event attended by Pit Debrief, Rivera, when asked about the split-Qualifying format, stated that he believes dividing the field represents the most practical solution at a circuit where drivers traditionally search aggressively for slipstreams. With considerably fewer opportunities to complete a flying lap, however, the shortened format places more importance on immediately finding the correct track position.
“Yeah, we’ve seen that in Monaco, the groups helped a lot because the track is very tight and there is little space, but here, for sure, I think it will be an exciting Qualifying session as it has always been in Monza and, playing the slipstream game and searching for good track position. But I think that’s the best they can do to avoid such a mess with the two groups. And I think, it will be an exciting Quali only having one or two push-laps.“
Rivera will compete in Group B on Friday afternoon, alongside championship leader Freddie Slater and Campos teammate Théophile Naël among others. Group A runs first at 14:00 local time before Rivera’s group follows at 14:20.
2025 Monza victory taught Rivera value of the tow
Rivera already understands how dramatically a slipstream can change a lap around Monza. The Mexican won Race 1 of the 2025 Eurocup-3 visit while driving for Campos Racing, with Colnaghi taking the second victory for MP Motorsport. That experience provided Rivera with a practical lesson in how important positioning behind another car can become during Qualifying.
Asked by Pit Debrief what lessons from that weekend remain useful despite moving into a different car and tyre package, Rivera highlighted the tow as one of the most transferable.
“Yeah, as Mattia said, Monza always provides great racing with the long straights. The huge tow effect with the new DRS zone as well will be even bigger, so the guy in P1 will have to fight for it. Also, in Quali, the tow effect is massive. I learned that in Eurocup last year, improving almost seven-tenths with a tow. I know that it’s very important and, I expect to have a good result and hopefully the same as last year.”
Seven tenths could represent an enormous swing in a tightly matched F3 field, making cooperation, timing and track position potentially as important as outright pace during Friday’s short session.
New DRS zone adds another tactical dimension for Rivera
Qualifying will not provide the only significant change at Monza. Drivers will also have an additional DRS zone between Turns 10 and 11, increasing the potential closing speed before the final corner.
Rivera expects that change to affect how drivers approach overtaking during the races. Passing at the first available opportunity may not always prove beneficial if it allows the other driver to immediately respond with DRS and the slipstream.
“Yeah, as James [Wharton] said, it probably will change a bit the racing. Maybe you don’t want to overtake before last turn so they can pass you back on the main straight. So, it will be interesting. Also, as James said, being P1 and breaking the DRS will be super difficult, so last lap should be exciting and I think there’s going to be a lot of changes of position. So, yeah, looking forward to it.”
That could create a particularly tactical final phase in both races. Drivers may need to decide whether leading onto the final lap offers an advantage or leaves them vulnerable to cars receiving both DRS and a powerful tow.
Rivera expects leader to face difficult task at Monza
Monza has traditionally produced races in which escaping from the cars behind becomes difficult, and Rivera expects the extra DRS opportunity to reinforce that trend.
The leader may need to create a gap of more than one second to remove the immediate DRS threat while simultaneously giving up the aerodynamic benefit available to the following cars. If several drivers remain together, those effects can generate large trains in which positions change repeatedly.
Rivera’s experience from Eurocup-3 gives him familiarity with that style of racing, even though the F3 car creates a different technical challenge. The Mexican demonstrated his ability in similar circumstances earlier this season when he fought through the field to win at Spa, adding his first Feature Race victory to the Sprint success he had already taken at Spielberg.
The challenge at Monza will therefore involve more than simply finding outright speed. Rivera must judge when to attack, when to remain in the tow and how to position himself for the decisive exchanges late in the race.
Madrid test helps Rivera return from summer break
Monza is F3’s first race weekend since Budapest in July, but Rivera says the summer interval has not felt particularly long.
The field returned to action during the recent two-day test at the Madring, which will host the championship finale immediately after Monza. That running allowed drivers to rebuild their rhythm before the final back-to-back sequence of the season.
Rivera also resumed simulator work before the Madrid test, meaning his preparation for the penultimate round began well before arriving in Italy.
“Yeah, it was great to have a break after a summer full of races. Yeah, same as Mattia, I will approach it the same as any other weekend. Also, if you don’t feel that we were not driving for so long as we had the Madrid test and already one week before that, I was already on the scene and training. So yeah, good break but not super long.”
That preparation comes at an important stage of Rivera’s rookie campaign, with only Monza and Madrid remaining and several championship positions still closely contested.
Rivera targets another strong Monza result
Rivera arrives in Italy fourth in the championship on 72 points after recovering from missing the Melbourne opener through injury. His two victories have subsequently made him one of the strongest performers during the middle part of the season.
His previous Monza success provides an encouraging reference, but the switch from Eurocup-3 to F3 means he cannot simply repeat the approach that worked one year ago. The greater DRS effect, different tyres and altered Qualifying format all create new variables.
Nevertheless, one lesson remains particularly clear. Rivera knows how valuable a well-timed tow can become around Monza and has already experienced what it takes to win at the circuit.
With only one or two push laps expected during Qualifying and a new DRS zone likely to make escaping at the front even harder, Rivera expects both Friday and the races to reward drivers who best manage the tactical battle around them.
