Rafael Câmara’s 2025 FIA F3 title win was sealed with a dominant weekend performance, but it was on Friday afternoon in Qualifying at the 2025 Hungarian GP that the foundations were laid. Under immense pressure, the Trident driver delivered his fifth pole position of the season—an achievement that extended his record for the most poles in a single F3 campaign.
In a field where a single second separated the entire grid, Câmara’s pace, adaptability, and tenacity shone through in a Qualifying session filled with adversity, fine margins, and tactical manoeuvring.
A promising start
Câmara began the 2025 Hungarian GP weekend with immediate authority, topping the timing screens in F3 Free Practice. His one-lap pace had been a constant weapon throughout the season, and his early performance at the Hungaroring suggested another front-row start was likely.
However, that early momentum did not translate seamlessly into Qualifying. On his first flying lap, the Brazilian clocked a time good enough for fifth place. Moments later, his effort was struck from the board. Replays showed he had exceeded track limits at Turn 4, taking all four wheels beyond the white line and over the exit kerb.
Suddenly, Câmara found himself without a representative time, raising the stakes considerably.
Campos capitalise early
While Câmara returned to the pits, Campos Racing took a different approach. Their trio of drivers—Mari Boya, Nikola Tsolov, and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak—headed out during a quieter moment in the session, capitalising on the empty track.
The tactic worked brilliantly. Boya surged to the top of the leaderboard with a 1:33.013, while Tsolov and Inthraphuvasak also made notable gains. Their early aggression placed the burden squarely on the shoulders of the Championship leader.
Traffic troubles
Returning to the circuit for his second run of F3 Qualifying at the 2025 Hungarian GP, Câmara sought redemption. With just over ten minutes to go, he had no valid time and minimal margin for error.
Although he initially found what appeared to be clean air, Roman Bilinski of Rodin Motorsport overtook him entering the final corner of the warm-up lap. This compromised Câmara’s tyre preparation and aerodynamic balance heading into his flying lap.
Despite the disrupted rhythm, he managed a 1:32.847—good enough for second at the time. However, as others continued to improve, he slid back to fifth place.
Campos continued to execute their strategy to perfection. Boya returned to the top of the timesheets with a 1:32.653, improving upon his earlier effort and strengthening his pole position credentials.
Strategic reversal: Plan C
As the clock wound down, the fight for clear track intensified. Drivers scrambled for the ideal gap, often disrupting one another in the process. Câmara, poised to begin his final run, was forced wide between Turns 13 and 14, effectively blocked by a train of slower-moving cars.
Trident reacted quickly. With five minutes left, they instructed Câmara to dive into the pit lane rather than risk a sub-optimal run. The decision was risky but necessary.
Now, they had to switch to an improvised version of the Campos strategy—running during the lull between the main groups. The catch was that Câmara had already completed two warm-up laps on his tyres, generating unwanted heat and wear. He would now have to cool the tyres while re-positioning himself on track, all while avoiding traffic and penalties for impeding.
One lap, one shot
The pressure could not have been higher into the final minutes of F3 Qualifying at the 2025 Hungarian GP. As Tuukka Taponen vaulted to provisional pole with a 1:32.652—just 0.001 seconds ahead of Boya—the window for a final, defining lap had opened.
Câmara lined up in 10th position on track, with Boya directly behind him. Both drivers now had clear circuits ahead and just one opportunity to secure pole position.
The Campos driver set a purple first sector, immediately putting pressure on his rival. He followed that with a personal best in the second sector, heading into the final corners 0.050 seconds faster than Câmara.
Yet, the Brazilian dug deep. Delivering a flawless final sector, Câmara stopped the clock at 1:32.510—enough to take provisional pole. Boya crossed the line seconds later but missed out by a mere 0.008 seconds.
Cementing a F3 champion’s statement
The team radio crackled with elation as Câmara celebrated his fifth pole of the season, a new record that cemented his status as the fastest driver over one lap in 2025. Meanwhile, Boya’s disappointment was evident. A slightly compromised final corner had denied him the top spot in what had become a head-to-head duel of near-identical execution.
Tuukka Taponen finished third after his own late improvement, followed closely by Gerrard Xie and Théophile Nael. Trident teammate Charlie Wurz took sixth ahead of Ugo Ugochukwu, Brando Badoer, Alessandro Giusti, James Wharton, James Hedley, and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, who completed the top 12.
A weekend that defined the title
Câmara’s success in Friday Qualifying set the tone for the rest of the F3 weekend at the 2025 Hungarian GP. From pole position, he carried momentum into the races and ultimately secured the Drivers’ Championship. His ability to adapt mid-session, absorb pressure, and execute when it mattered most reflected the qualities of a deserving champion.
Not only did he outperform his rivals in lap time, but he also outmanoeuvred them in the psychological and strategic battle that defined the 2025 Hungarian GP weekend. In one of the closest Qualifying sessions in recent memory—where the top 26 were separated by just 0.510 seconds—Rafael Câmara proved why he is the 2025 FIA F3 Champion.
