Mari Boya produced a determined and skilful performance at the 2025 Hungarian GP, securing second place in a tense and tactical F3 Feature Race. Representing Campos Racing and backed by the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy, Boya entered the weekend knowing a win was essential to keep his championship hopes alive. Although he ultimately finished just behind Rafael Câmara, his drive highlighted the pace and maturity that have defined his second half of the season.
Reflecting on the result shortly after stepping out of the car, Boya shared his thoughts on coming so close to victory.
“For sure,” Boya replied when asked if he was happy with the result of the race, “As a driver I am never satisfied with P2, but it was a really good race. We had really good speed in all conditions, also in Qualifying that is also where we had to work a bit harder, but I wanted to win.”
While never fully content with a runner-up finish, behind Trident’s Rafael Câmara who also sealed the championship title, Boya acknowledged the strength of his weekend overall. From a solid Qualifying effort to a calm and calculated approach during the race, he remained in the mix for victory from the start. The mixed weather conditions posed additional challenges, but they also offered Boya opportunities to capitalise on his adaptability and racecraft.
The missed opportunity and grip struggles
Boya believed that a win was within reach at the 2025 Hungarian GP—particularly in the early stages of the F3 Feature race when he sensed an advantage over Câmara. The Safety Car came out at the worst moment, cutting off his momentum just as he prepared to make a move. As the race progressed, tyre pressures rose and grip faded, further complicating his pursuit of the lead.
“I felt today we had a good chance, even in these conditions I felt it was possible to win. But maybe a Safety Car at the beginning when I felt I was slightly stronger than him with DRS it was possible. But after this when I was getting close to him, I was losing a lot of grip in the car, pressures were going super high, it was just being there, trying to see if he would make a mistake.”
Despite his efforts to force an error, Câmara held firm, and Boya conceded that, under the circumstances, second place may have been the limit of what was achievable.
“[Câmara] did a really good job and still happy with P2 but as a team we always try to go for everything and maybe today P2 was the maximum.”
While falling just short of the win, Boya’s result propelled him to second place in the Drivers’ Championship—a testament to his persistence and consistency after a difficult start to the season.
A season of frustrations and growth
Bad luck and unpredictable setbacks—many of which fell outside the control of both the driver and the team—plagued the early rounds of Boya’s 2025 F3 campaign. Yet through each challenge, Boya and Campos Racing found ways to adapt and improve, gradually building form and confidence as the season progressed.
Now sitting second in the standings, Boya looks back at the journey not with regret, but with pride in how far they have come. As he prepares for the final round at Monza, he maintains a clear focus on enjoying the moment rather than dwelling on what might have been.
“I will try to enjoy it,” he said when asked what he would be looking for in the series finale at Monza. “If I look on the Championship, the only thing I will get is frustrated, because at the beginning of the season it was crazy the amount of things that happened to us, completely outside of the control of the team and myself.”
Though he can no longer claim the 2025 F3 Championship title, and though he faces stiff competition to hold on the P2, Boya believes the bigger victory lies in the transformation both he and the team have undergone over the season. The combination of lessons learned and momentum gained have left him feeling stronger than ever in the cockpit.
“But this is racing, and maybe we could have changed some things to improve, we learned, but still the best thing I can say is we ended the Championship with a really good dynamic, I feel like I am in the best moment of my career.”
Looking ahead to Monza—and beyond
Monza will mark the final round of the 2025 F3 season—and, by Boya’s own admission, likely his last race in the category. Though he stops short of confirming any next steps, his performance and upward trajectory suggest that a move to a higher tier of single-seaters may be on the horizon.
Regardless of what the future holds, Boya will focus on making the most of the final chapter in this campaign. His bond with Campos Racing, his form behind the wheel, and the support of the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy all point towards a bright and promising future.
“The only thing I can say is I would love this Championship to last longer, I feel super strong. I feel happy with the team and myself but it’s like this. I will try to enjoy the last race for sure in F3, and let’s see.”
As the FIA F3 paddock prepares for its finale in Monza, Mari Boya stands as one of the championship’s standout figures—resilient, refined, and ready for what comes next.
