Campos Racing’s Mari Boya claimed a surprise podium finish in the F3 Sprint Race at the 2025 British GP, taking advantage of scrap between Van Amersfoort Racing’s Théophile Naël and ART Grand Prix’s Laurens van Hoepen to claim the final podium position.
In the late stages of Saturday’s Sprint Race, van Hoepen, who had been chasing Naël for several laps attempted a move down the inside. While attempting to defend, Naël ran wide, allowing Boya to catch up to duo in front. After going three-wide through Stowe, Boya held the lead, claiming P3 as the Naël recovered to P4, remaining ahead of van Hoepen. Despite their best efforts, neither van Hoepen nor Naël could mount a sufficient challenge against the Campos Racing driver. Boya subsequently crossed line P3, joining his teammate, Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak on the podium.
Double podium “a really nice result” for Campos Racing
While speaking to the media during the post-Sprint Race Press Conference, attended by Pit Debrief, Boya, who had started the race from P9 under the reverse-grid conditions, described his race as “really fun”. He explained that his result has pleased him and highlighted his strong race pace throughout the session.
“It was really, really fun. I think our pace in the races has been really strong. The last races, and again today in Silverstone we showed a great pace, so yeah, really happy also for the team because 1 and 3 is a really nice result.”
Having shown his potential in Saturday’s Sprint Race, Boya added, “And tomorrow I think we have also a really nice opportunity to fight for everything.”
Better tyres and a strong overtake facilitated impressive overtake
Boya’s overtake on Naël and van Hoepen was reminiscent of Lewis Hamilton’s infamous overtake on Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez in the 2025 F1 British GP. The iconic moment, commonly remembered by F1 commentator, David Croft’s “And through goes Hamilton!” exclamation, saw the seven-time world champion, then racing for Mercedes, pass both Leclerc and Pérez on the exit of the last corner, taking the lead of the race, which was ultimately won by Leclerc’s then-teammate Carlos Sainz.
When asked to further describe his move at that final corner, Boya stated that he believed that he had maximised the opportunity presented to him, taking advantage of a strong exit and better tyres.
“Yeah, it was really nice. At that point I had better condition on the tyres, so I just tried to focus on the exit, to prepare well. They were fighting, so I think it was well maximised, and really happy it was the move for the podium, so happy with that and overall, with all the race, how everything went, and I feel really prepared for tomorrow.”
Boya honoured to share a track with F1 as he aims to join their ranks
However, Boya claimed that he was not thinking of Hamilton’s famous move when he had attempted his own, noting his preference for reading the race as it unfolded. “Well, not really,” Boya replied when Pit Debrief asked whether he had taken anything from the performance of F1 legends like Hamilton at the historic Silverstone circuit. However, he did identify the opportunity to share a circuit with the F1 drivers as “an honour and privilege” noting that he hopes to reach their level one day.
“I just tried to see and to read, as I say always, as quick as possible all the opportunities. But, for sure, it’s an honour and a privilege to race in tracks like this and together with F1. It’s, for sure, my goal to be there one day, so it’s really special.”
Boya settling in at Aston Martin
Having recently become the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy’s first signing, Boya, noting his good results in recent races, believes that he is already taking steps to realise his dream of F1. He plans to keep improving over the upcoming rounds.
“And, really happy as well to join the Aston Martin. And since I am there, results are coming really nice. So, yeah, really appreciate that. And let’s keep working for more.”
For Aston Martin, the British GP constitutes a home race, with their campus located mere metres away from the entrance of the Silverstone Circuit.
“Yeah, it’s super close,” Boya said, noting the Silverstone Circuit’s proximity to the Aston Martin campus, “Two weeks ago, it was the first time I visited the campus. It’s really 200 metres from the entrance from this track at Silverstone.”
When asked about Aston Martin’s role in his preparation, Boya explained that while his approach to the weekend has not changed significantly, he is more focused as he hopes to compensate the team for their investment in him.
“Yeah, I’m really glad and, yeah, super proud about the people that have been pushing me in there. So, now the only thing I am focusing is to work [as hard as ever] to compensate all the hard work they did to me to be there. And the weekend approach doesn’t change too much. I am still working with campus in the factory and everything preparing the weekend. So, at the moment, it’s really, really nice and let’s see how the future and everything goes for me.”
Boya “maximising nearly everything” after difficult start to the 2025 F3 season
Boya’s P3 finish in the F3 Sprint Race at the 2025 British GP marked the Spanish driver’s third of the season and fifth of his F3 career. Having scored in all but four of this season’s races, Boya currently sits fifth in the 2025 F3 Drivers’ Championship standings. For Boya, whose season started with a miserable weekend in Melbourne, his recent performances signal progress.
When asked if he believes that he has been building momentum throughout the season, the Campos Racing driver stated that he focused on each race as it came. While optimistic, especially after suffering bad luck in Qualifying in the early rounds, Boya acknowledges that factors outside his or his team’s control can affect the outcome of his weekend.
“We have had a lot of bad luck at the beginning of the season, especially in Qualifying. It was many times things that we cannot manage, outside of our control. But races are like this, and now we are really maximising nearly everything that we have, so let’s enjoy the moment. I focus on tomorrow, race by race, and it’s looking really nice.”
Boya focused on “cleaner weekends” as he recovers from slow start to the 2025 F3 season
With Boya’s consistency having improved over the recent rounds, highlighted by his back-to-back podiums in the Spielberg Feature Race and Silverstone Sprint Race, the Campos Racing driver was asked about the factors proving to be instrumental to this success.
The Spaniard again acknowledged his difficult and unlucky start to the season. He explained that he had focused on having “cleaner weekends” defined by completing as many laps as possible, even if they were not perfect. However, Boya believes that their strong performances and potential has realigned the team’s approach to risk-taking with more caution allowed without risk of missing out on point-scoring opportunities.
“Yeah, it has been really hard, as I said before. Many things outside of our control, not even the team will do anything better at some points. But the only thing that changed is that we are getting cleaner weekends. I am trying to finish all the laps that I can do, even if it’s not 100% lap.”
“But I think that with the potential and the performance we are showing, we don’t need to be that much on the risk every time.” And I think it’s helping to be more or less there always. And then in the races, we have a lot of laps to make moves and to be where I think we belong.”
While Boya acknowledged changes in the team’s approach to racing, he views them in an optimistic light.
“So, I think we have been changing the last few races and I am feeling super confident and I am happy with it.”
2025 success a product of team’s combined efforts
With Campos Racing celebrating a 1-3 after the F3 Sprint Race at the 2025 British GP, Boya acknowledged that a strong working relationship with his teammates Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak and Nikola Tsolov has played a significant role in the team’s progress this season. The combined efforts of the three drivers see the Spanish team sit second in the Teams’ Championship, just 17 points off Trident at the top.
Responding to a question from Pit Debrief, Boya said, “We have had a really strong winter working together. All three drivers, and also the team, are really pushing. They are working really hard. So as a driver, I really appreciate the work they are putting into it.”
He highlighted Qualifying performance as a key area of focus of both him and his ream, noting that while races were more easily managed, a strong Qualifying position could determine the outcome of a driver’s race.
“Qualifying in F3 is always really key. I feel that putting everything on that lap is quite hard, but on the races, there is more time to put, let’s say, the car and the pace that every driver has. We normally go more to the front, so yeah, we will still focus on Qualifying because the races are always looking really nice.”
Reading the race “as quickly as possible” key to race success
In addition to a strong Qualifying performance and subsequently a starting position closer to the front, Boya believes that reading the race quickly and thoroughly is key to maximising his performance. He explained that by understanding the conditions on track and his car’s responsiveness to various factors, his performance was improved. However, he also highlighted the need to “push to the limit” in races, noting the small margins between success and disappointment.
“I think the most important thing from the F3 races is trying to read the race as quickly as possible to see where is the point that you feel you are strong and where you struggle to maximise everything.”
He continued, “I also feel that the car is really nice. I feel really in one with it, so it’s for sure helping me to perform like we are performing. So yeah, I feel the most important thing is to read as quickly as possible and then just push to the limit you have every moment.”
