Rafael Câmara had a dramatic Qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps in Round 8 of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship. He set the early pace with a 2:05.557 and looked strong. Van Amersfoort’s Théophile Naël then edged ahead. Câmara responded with a 2:04.460 to take provisional second behind surprise pole-sitter Brad Benavides. But stewards deleted his lap for track limits, dropping him to 23rd. Later, officials reinstated the time after review. Câmara secured P2 on the grid, keeping his title hopes on track.
Câmara eyes strategic success after solid Spa F3 Qualifying
Câmara reflected positively on his qualifying performance, describing it as well-executed despite the challenges posed by Spa’s heavy traffic. He highlighted the importance of positioning on track to gain an aerodynamic advantage. Without getting too close to rivals, which can hinder lap time.
The Brazilian felt he timed his runs well, securing clean air and making the most of sector two. He was pleased with the outcome and confident about his grid spot, noting Spa’s nature allows for strategic racing. While satisfied with the start, he acknowledged that the weekend still holds many variables and opportunities.
“I think it was a good lap. In the end we managed a very tricky quali, especially the traffic here, you need to make sure you are in a nice position and I think both laps I was able to manage myself in a good position to have a little bit of a tow and have a clean sector two because if you are too close you can lose a bit of performance.”
“I am happy with the result, I think it’s a good place to start for the races, here in Spa, in the races, you can play quite a lot. So it’s a good start for the weekend, but still a lot to play for and we will see how we go.”
Lost pace and traffic woes during F3 Qualifying nearly cost Câmara at Spa
Câmara admitted he thought his qualifying in Spa was ruined after a tough second run. Where performance dropped sharply. Even with a potential slipstream, he felt the time lost in sector two would be too great to recover. Attempting another lap proved difficult, as traffic ahead disrupted his rhythm from as early as Turn 5. Forcing him to abandon the effort. Just when things looked bleak, a radio call from the team confirmed that his earlier lap time had been reinstated. That news brought a wave of relief and helped him regain composure heading into the remainder of the weekend.
“I just thought it was over basically. The second push we had a big drop, so even if I had a massive tow, in sector two you would lose so much that you could not compensate. I knew basically it was over.”
“I tried too but with the mess in front, it was impossible to open the lap in a nice place, already in T5 I got traffic and I needed to back off. But then luckily, they opened the radio and said that the lap was back, so I was more and more calm.”
Focus and adaptability key for Câmara at Spa F3 Sprint
Looking ahead, Câmara emphasized the importance of staying focused and making the most of what the team can control. Preparation for the Sprint Race is key, especially with Spa’s famously unpredictable weather. With changing conditions always a factor, he stressed the need to be ready for anything. Together with his team, he plans to analyse where they can perform strongly—particularly in tyre management—and ensure they maximise every opportunity in the races.
“The result will be the same, focus on what we are doing, maximise the things in our control, prepare tomorrow for the Sprint Race, here also the weather is always changing, so we need to make sure we are prepared for both conditions, and we will just see with the team, look where we can do a good job in the races, tyre management, and maximise things.”
Câmara aims for points with strong Spa comeback mindset
Câmara welcomed the opportunities Spa offers for overtaking and recovery, noting from past experience that strong comebacks are possible. He recalled charging through the field from eighth in FRECA last year, showing how the track allows drivers to stay in the fight. With that in mind, his focus remains on execution—controlling what he can and making the most of every chance. While recent Sprint Races haven’t gone to plan, he’s committed to staying focused, working closely with the team, and aiming for valuable points to strengthen his championship campaign.
“Yeah, I think it’s a nice thing that here in Spa, in the race, you can fight quite a lot. You can come back. I think I experienced that last year in FRECA. I started P8 and was able to come back. So it’s a track where you have plenty of opportunities.”
“And in terms of approach, I think you always focus on what you can do. Maximise. The sprint race has been not very well, but I think I would just focus on myself and try to do the best that we can as a team and have some good points for the championship.”
Câmara eyes strong F3 qualifying after Spa practice confusion
Câmara didn’t change his approach despite the confusion early in the day. At first, Câmara thought Free Practice was cancelled and they would go straight to Qualifying in Spa. But once the schedule stayed the same, he focused on preparing the car as usual. He felt good after the first run and saw potential to improve. Knowing Spa allows big gains with track evolution, he aimed to put together a clean lap. His goal was simple—secure a solid starting spot for the race.
“No, not really. I think we still got the FP and quali. When they said it was cancelled, I thought we were going to do only quali, but after, it was the same approach. We had FP. Like always, we try to maximise the car for quali.”
“And then, yeah, I think during the session, for me, I mean, the first set was quite decent already, so I just tried to make sure I was doing, I was putting in a good lap again, that I knew the improvement is quite big in Spa. So, yeah, I just tried to make a decent lap and have a decent position to start for the race.”
Câmara’s methodical approach pays off in Spa F3 Qualifying
Right from the beginning of qualifying in Spa, Câmara worked on spotting where he could get better. He noticed the car felt lighter, likely because it carried less fuel than before. Meanwhile, the surface of the track was getting faster as more cars laid down rubber.
His goal became clear: deliver a smooth and strong lap to stay competitive. Câmara carried out his plan effectively and felt confident about his performance. Although he had moments of caution around the track’s boundaries, he kept control and avoided any mistakes. This careful approach put him in a good position heading into the race.
“It was the same as always. Just try to, from the first set, to understand where I need to improve. I knew that the car is doing lighter, maybe we have less fuel in the end, and the track is improving.”
“So I knew that I just need to pull up there, a clean one, and just be up there. So, in the end, I think I executed in a good way. In the end, it was the problem with the track limits, so a bit scared, but in the end, it was everything safe and nice for the races.”
Câmara plans ahead to handle unpredictable conditions during the F3 races at Spa
Câmara believed they could manage either situation without major issues. He dedicated time to preparing carefully for both possible outcomes. He understood that, despite the differences, the conditions would likely lead to a similar race environment. With that in mind, he planned to stay focused and give his maximum effort. Ultimately, he was ready to adapt and see how things unfolded on race day.
“In both conditions, I think we will be okay. Like I said, just try to prepare as much as we can, both scenarios, and in the end, it will be the same foreground. So, I’ll just try to do my best and see how it goes.”
