Mari Boya made a strong start to his 2025 Belgian GP weekend in Spa-Francorchamps as he set the pace in a condensed and rescheduled F3 Free Practice session. The Campos Racing driver clocked a 2:06.111 to finish the session fastest, demonstrating immediate comfort and confidence at the Belgian circuit.
Reflecting on the result, Boya praised both the performance of the car and the way things have been progressing throughout the season. While speaking to the media, he said, “A bit later than expected but Free Practice was really positive. Now we have to focus on Qualifying. We will switch to the Medium compound which will be a bit different compared to the Hard.”
He emphasised how comfortable he felt behind the wheel, crediting his team for their preparation and car setup.
“But I feel in good shape, everything is happening really naturally in the car for me and it’s a really good feeling as a driver. So, I have to thank the team for the car they are giving me, now let’s try to make the correct steps for Qualifying because the temperature and tyres will be different.”
Weather delay demands strategic adaptation
Dense morning fog delayed the start of the day’s running, prompting organisers to move the practice session to the afternoon and shorten it from 45 minutes to 30. This forced teams to rethink their strategies on short notice. Boya and Campos adjusted their plans effectively, managing to optimise their limited track time.
The Spanish driver noted how important it was to adapt the setup and approach based on the changing track conditions.
“Yeah, the plan was a bit different. And for sure, in terms of the approach, how we approach the car is different. It’s not the same 30 degrees track temperature compared to the 15 or 20 that maybe was this morning.”
He acknowledged that while the engineers had the bigger task in adapting to the revised conditions, his focus was on making the most of the limited opportunity to run.
“So maybe this is a bit more of a job for the engineers, but as a driver, we try to maximise and have the best things that have possible for them.”
Focus shifts to tyre management and track evolution
Looking ahead to Qualifying, Boya will need to transition from the Hard compound to the softer Medium tyres. With track temperatures expected to remain lower than originally anticipated, tyre preparation and careful management will become crucial elements.
The Campos team are working to refine the setup in response to the evolving conditions, and Boya is confident they can make the right changes to stay competitive.
“We have to adapt and make the correct steps to take better care of the tyre, and it will be crucial to do so. But, everything is feeling really natural, and I feel really confident because of it.”
Aiming high with momentum on his side
Boya enters the weekend with strong recent form, having steadily climbed the Drivers’ Championship standings. As an Aston Martin Development Driver, he has high expectations for himself and his team.
With a solid practice performance under his belt and clear potential in the car, Boya has made his ambitions clear ahead of the all-important Qualifying session.
“For sure pole is on the table, I won’t lie and say I’m not aiming for that, but hopefully the luck goes my way later on.”
