Rafael Câmara delivered a robust performance in the 2025 F3 Sprint Race at the Belgian GP, fighting his way from P11 on the grid to finish fifth. The TRIDENT driver, currently leading the Drivers’ Championship, executed a clean and calculated race to secure a strong result and build momentum heading into Sunday’s Feature Race.
“It was a clean one and I enjoyed it quite a lot. The car was good, and in the beginning, I managed the tyres to make sure I would be able to keep them alive in the end,” Câmara said post-race. “Then I think we executed things quite well. Finally, a good Sprint Race and good Saturday for us! Silverstone was decent, but I don’t think we’ve had a really good Saturday.”
Pleased with his Saturday form for the first time this season, the Brazilian added, “It’s good to have this and it gives us some confidence as well for tomorrow. Even if it’s raining tomorrow, in both scenarios, I think we’re prepared.”
Fighting with title rivals and staying focused
Câmara’s charge through the field placed him in direct battle with title rivals Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov and Mari Boya during the closing stages of the F3 Sprint Race at the Belgian GP. Despite the potential for significant Championship consequences, he remained composed.
“Of course you know who you’re fighting with, the guys know how to fight with each other and you’re always thinking a bit about that. But in the end, it’s the same and you just maximise whoever is in front of you or behind you,” he explained. “In the end, I just focused on the things that are under my control, what I can do in the best way, and it was good for the show.”
Utilising the slipstream to full effect
Câmara pointed to the nature of Spa’s long straights and the power of DRS as key enablers of his overtaking-heavy Belgian GP F3 Sprint Race. With strong straight-line speed and intelligent use of the tow, he capitalised on overtaking opportunities.
“To be honest, I think we had good pace, and it was quite good to have the tow at the same time. We had some chances into Turn 5, and the tow is very powerful,” he said. “Also on the exit of Turn 15 all the way along that straight and into the last chicane. But especially after Eau Rouge, when you have DRS. So we were always able to attack, and I never really had to defend myself, so it was a good race.”
Eyes on the Championship in Sunday’s Feature Race
Looking ahead to the Belgian GP Feature Race, where he starts from the front row in P2, Câmara is aiming to strike a balance between aggression and consistency to maintain his F3 Championship lead.
“It’s always nice to win, but it’s even better to win the Championship. I will be doing the best thing for the Championship in order to maximise things,” he said. “We will take the race like today, of course we will try to go for the win, but I’ll be happy to score some good points for the Drivers’ Championship.”
Câmara currently leads Tsolov by 28 points and will aim to protect this margin through Sunday’s Feature Race and the upcoming round in Hungary.
