2025 F3 Post-Season Test | Imola | Colnaghi tops the final day of testing

Mattia Colnaghi topped the timing sheets on the final day of the F3 2025 Post-Season Testing. The MP Motorsport driver set the fastest time across the two testing days with a lap of 1:31.824. In the afternoon session, it was AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides who impressed ahead of TRIDENT driver Matteo De Palo.

Morning Session

As testing began in the morning and the drivers headed out on track, Yevan David led the pack. Quickly after the AIX driver finished his lap, Jin Nakamura and Benavides stormed to faster times. Next came Freddie Slater setting the new benchmark of 1:32.688, followed closely by Theophile Nael, 0.186s behind. Nael was quickly pushed down the timing sheet as Tuukka Taponen grabbed P2 with a 1:32.790.

The morning session did not go undisturbed as the two Hitech TGR cars of Michael Shin and Fionn Mclaughin got stuck in the gravel. The red flags were waved before the incident being cleared after a few minutes. As 45 minutes marked the clock, the red flags came out again as Nael was parked at Turn 4.

The session resumed as the first hour of running concluded. Benavides quickly returned to the top spot with a lap of 1:32.347 followed by Ugo Ugochukwu only 0.145s separating the two.

Red Bull junior, Colnaghi, returned to track and showed his quick pace with a 1:31.824. Closely behind him came his teammate, Taponen. As the clock kept counting down, Benavides stormed to another great lap, keeping him within 0.008s of the Red Bull junior. The F3 drivers kept improving as Slater roared to another strong lap, only 0.002s behind Colnaghi. Still, no one could knock the leader’s time as he stayed on top.

Morning Session Standings:

1. Mattia Colnaghi – MP Motorsport – 1:31.824
2. Freddie Slater – TRIDENT – 1:31.826
3. Brad Benavides – AIX Racing – 1:31.832
4. Noah Stromsted – TRIDENT – 1:31.954
5. Ugo Ugochukwu – Campos Racing – 1:32.148
6. Tuukka Taponen – MP Motorsport – 1:32.159
7. Alessandro Giusti – MP Motorsport – 1:32.276
8. Matteo De Palo – TRIDENT – 1:32.283
9. Theophile Nael – Campos Racing – 1:32.356
10. James Wharton – PREMA Racing – 1:32.377
11. Louis Sharp – PREMA Racing – 1:32.399
12. Bruno Del Pino – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:32.410
13. Taito Kato – ART Grand Prix – 1:32.431
14. Ernesto Rivera – Campos Racing – 1:32.433
15. Hiyu Yamakoshi – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:32.460
16. Enzo Deligny – PREMA Racing – 1:32.491
17. Brando Badoer – Rodin Motorsport – 1:32.539
18. Pedro Clerot – Rodin Motorsport – 1:32.570
19. Jesse Carrasquedo – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:32.583
20. Jin Nakamura – Hitech TGR – 1:32.597
21. Kanato Le – ART Grand Prix – 1:32.606
22. Yevan David – AIX Racing – 1:32.630
23. Maciej Gladysz – ART Grand Prix – 1:32.646
24. Nicola Lacorte – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:32.838
25. Gerrard Xie – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:32.877
26. Christian Ho – Rodin Motorsport – 1:32.915
27. Michael Shin – Hitech TGR – 1:33.051
28. Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:33.201
29. Fernando Barrichello – AIX Racing – 1:33.280
30. Fionn Mclaughlin – Hitech TGR – 1:33.353

Afternoon Session

As the morning session concluded and the afternoon begun, Ernesto Rivera got the field started. Rivera took a solid 1:33.121 around the track, followed by Campos teammate Ugochukwu only 0.095s behind. The top spot was quick to change as the other drivers trickled onto the track. Christian Ho set a strong 1:32.782, however as he finished his lap on top, the red flags were once again out. This time Slater found the gravel at Turn 14.

After the track was cleared, Benavides once again flew across the line and beat Ho with a 1:32.510. Quickly after, the American beat his own time, setting a new lap of 1:32.201. He was followed by Taponen, 0.431s behind.

As most of the teams were focused on race simulations rather than qualifying laps, less drivers continued to improve their times. With 20 minutes left on the clock, Shin stopped at Turn 4 bringing the red flags out once again.

Matteo De Palo found his way to P2 as the session resumed. While Colnaghi started the day on top, the afternoon session had him finish P6. This left Benavides on top followed by De Palo and Taponen in third. Still, no one could match Colnaghi’s lap time as he remained the fastest across the two days. The Formula 3 Post-Season Test concluded and the next season starts back up March 6th.

Afternoon Session Standings:

1. Brad Benavides – AIX Racing – 1:32.201
2. Matteo De Palo – TRIDENT – 1:32.591
3. Tuukka Taponen – MP Motorsport – 1:32.632
4. Noah Stromsted – TRIDENT – 1:32.668
5. Christian Ho – Rodin Motorsport – 1:32.782
6. Mattia Colnaghi – MP Motorsport – 1:32.792
7. Alessandro Giusti – MP Motorsport – 1:32.871
8. Ernesto Rivera – Campos Racing – 1:32.978
9. Jin Nakamura – Hitech TGR – 1:32.980
10. Ugo Ugochukwu – Campos Racing – 1:33.124
11. Brando Badoer – Rodin Motorsport – 1:33.129
12. Gerrard Xie – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:33.134
13. Theophile Nael – Campos Racing – 1:33.150
14. Fionn Mclaughlin – Hitech TGR – 1:33.245
15. Pedro Clerot – Rodin Motorsport – 1:33.311
16. Freddie Slater – TRIDENT – 1:33.381
17. Nicola Lacorte – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:33.563
18. Yevan David – AIX Racing – 1:33.573
19. Fernando Barrichello – AIX Racing – 1:33.633
20. Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi – DAMS Lucas Oil – 1:33.705
21. Michael Shin – Hitech TGR – 1:33.740
22. James Wharton – PREMA Racing – 1:34.317
23. Jesse Carrasquedo – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:34.360
24. Louis Sharp – PREMA Racing – 1:34.911
25. Taito Kato – ART Grand Prix – 1:34.938
26. Bruno Del Pino – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:34.947
27. Enzo Deligny – PREMA Racing – 1:34/947
28. Kanato Le – ART Grand Prix – 1:35.184
29. Maciej Gladysz – ART Grand Prix – 1:35.210
30. Hiyu Yamakoshi – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:35.277