The 2025 Barcelona F3 Round marks the conclusion of the championship’s first gruelling triple header, and Campos Racing’s Mari Boya arrives at his home race buoyed by recent progress and a clear sense of determination following back-to-back race weekends in Imola and Monaco. With momentum on his side, Boya is focused on translating lessons learned into a strong result at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya — a track that holds deep personal significance for the Catalan native.
Highs and lows in Imola and Monaco
Over the course of the triple header, Boya has endured a rollercoaster of experiences. At Imola, he suffered a third career retirement in an F3 Sprint Race, falling victim once more to bad luck. Nevertheless, he rebounded just over a week later with a composed and skilful drive in Monaco’s disrupted Feature Race, securing his first podium of the 2025 campaign. The result marked his third career podium and his first since his victory in the 2024 Barcelona Sprint Race.
Qualifying crucial to the weekend’s success
During Thursday’s media day ahead of the Spanish GP, Pit Debrief asked Boya to reflect on the key takeaways from the recent triple header and how he planned to apply them to the Barcelona weekend. In his response, Boya highlighted the importance of his team’s recent progress in Qualifying — an area he sees as crucial to success.
“For me, I think we did quite a big step compared to the first two rounds, especially in Qualifying. Races have been always really strong but I’m really happy about how Qualifying has gone.”
Boya added, “So for sure, here [it] will be crucial and, [I am] excited to race in our home race for the team and me.”
“Confident” Boya expecting a strong performance in Barcelona
When asked about his expectations for the upcoming weekend, Boya expressed quiet confidence. Drawing on past performances and his familiarity with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, he stated his belief in a strong result.
“Yes, I feel confident,” he said. “It’s always a track that my team and I have been always strong [at] here, mainly in testing. It’s true that it’s a track [that] all the drivers know really well because nearly all the tests from all the categories are in here.”
Nonetheless, Boya warned that tight margins in Qualifying would likely shape the outcome of the weekend. He expects fierce competition throughout the field and stressed the importance of a clean and fast lap early in the session.
“So, for sure, having that last lap with first set in Qualifying tight, it will be crucial because I expect no big difference between all drivers. So, I think this is the most crucial thing and for sure I feel prepared for it.”
Boya motivated and prepared after “dynamic” weekends in Imola and Monaco
Boya later reiterated his sense of preparedness for the Barcelona Round, pointing to the momentum gained from two dynamic weekends in Imola and Monaco. Despite the misfortune at Imola, he believes the overall direction has been positive.
“I feel prepared for this round. I think we come from a good, dynamic two weekends that have gone really well. Imola, for sure, Saturday was quite bad luck [with] what happened. We had quite [a good chance] to be on the podium. So I think the dynamic has been really good. I feel really strong, and I feel super prepared and confident for Barcelona. So really excited and I want to start already the weekend now.”
Pre-season testing an asset but adaptation vital
Although the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya featured in F3 pre-season testing earlier in 2025, Boya explained that race conditions differ significantly — particularly due to higher temperatures. With in-season testing now complete and four rounds raced, he believes the team now has a much clearer understanding of the car’s limitations.
“Yeah, pretty similar to what Tim [Tramnitz] said. First test here in Barcelona was mainly for the team to take conclusions about the new car and especially the main difference is the temperature.”
“Always when we come for the race weekend, compared to the test, we are nearly two seconds slower and it’s just because of the track temperature being so high. Especially this weekend, we expect to have high temperatures, which make the car and everything feel slow and a bit worse. So we’ll try to adapt the best we can. We have free practise to have a proper learning about the track and the condition and hope to have the best car as possible for Qualifying.”
A “super tight” Qualifying expected
Boya will be one of the more experienced drivers at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, having raced there twice before in F3. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that this familiarity may be less of an advantage due to pre-season testing.
“Yeah, I think coming from Monaco, it’s hard to have a Qualifying more intense than that one. It is a track that we cannot overtake, or you have to risk too much. But for sure, I expect to be qualifying super tight in here. But I know that if we focus and we do our best, we will be there fighting for everything. So yeah, just focus first on Free Practice, learn as much as possible and then maximise Qualifying as always.”
Saying goodbye to a home circuit
As a Catalan native, Boya has a strong emotional attachment to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. However, with the Spanish GP set to move to Madrid from 2026 until at least 2035, this weekend may mark one of his last opportunities to compete at his home track in formula racing. When asked by Pit Debrief about the impending change, Boya expressed both uncertainty and disappointment.
“Well, at the moment, I don’t know really what will happen [same as] as everyone. For sure, this track for me is really special. It’s for sure the track where I have driven the most without any doubt. I have really good memories from here and I’m still really young.”
Having described the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as an “iconic” one for Spanish motorsport, Boya went on to propose an alternative — hosting two Spanish rounds, one in Madrid and one in Barcelona — to preserve the Catalan circuit’s presence in the championship.
“I expect this track is really for all the Spanish fans and drivers is always the most iconic one. It will be a bad notice for sure to lose it.”
“So if it’s possible for sure for me, as more tracks in Spain as possible, it will be the best. We have the time to have two, so for sure it will be better than one. So let’s hope for that.”
An important weekend at home
As F3 returns to Barcelona for the 2025 Round, Mari Boya stands poised to make the most of his home race opportunity. With recent progress in Qualifying, growing confidence, and a deep personal connection to the circuit, he enters the weekend prepared and motivated. While the future of the Barcelona circuit in top-tier motorsport remains uncertain, Boya’s focus remains clear: maximise performance, learn from each session, and give his home crowd something to cheer for.
