Newly crowned FIA F3 Champion Rafael Câmara has taken time to reflect on the people and structures at Trident and the Ferrari Driver Academy that helped propel him to a title-winning season. The 20-year-old Brazilian driver not only followed in the footsteps of past Trident champions Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli but carved out his own path in one of the most competitive fields in junior motorsport.
A third Trident title in three years
Trident’s recent history in FIA F3 speaks for itself. With three titles in as many seasons, the Italian squad has become a benchmark for success in the series. For Câmara, who captured the 2025 crown in his rookie year, the team’s thorough approach made all the difference, as he told Pit Debrief and other media outlets.
“All the preparation that we did. Probably it was the same with Gabi [Bortoleto] and Forna [Leonardo Fornaroli]. The way we prepared for the season, how much work they put into this Championship, especially the engineers, they work almost every day. This makes us drivers more calm, more confident that we are in a good environment.”
Team chemistry and continuity
One of the standout aspects of Trident’s success, according to Câmara, is the bond that exists within the team. He described the working environment as familial — a quality that allowed him to quickly integrate and thrive, especially since he worked with the same personnel who previously supported Bortoleto’s 2023 campaign.
“The team is pretty much like a family, everyone has been together for I think more than 10 years, everyone knows each other. My group, my team, that is my mechanics and my engineer is the same that Gabi had. It was super nice to work with them.”
Having that consistency, both technically and personally, gave Câmara a rare advantage. As a rookie, being surrounded by experienced professionals who knew how to win meant he could focus entirely on performance without having to build new relationships from scratch.
An emotional farewell on the horizon
Although he remains focused on the season finale in Monza, Câmara already anticipates the emotional toll of moving on from Trident. The bond built with his crew over the past year clearly meant a great deal to him — and leaving that behind will not be easy.
“For sure I will miss them next year because it was such a great season, a great time I had with them. Since the post-season tests of last year, I already had a very good feeling with them. Even the test was already good, we were already fast.”
Even before his official debut with Trident, Câmara had a sense that something special was developing. But heading into the season, he still felt uncertain — unsure whether the same conditions that fostered past success could carry through again.
“I was a bit scared for this year because everything can change, and I knew it was good before. I’m very thankful for everything they have done for me, my Team Manager Giacomo [Ricci], my engineer Andrea, my mechanics, they were amazing this year, and I am very happy to be a part of this team.”
Ferrari Driver Academy: Four years of support
Câmara’s journey to the top tier of F3 did not begin in a vacuum. Since 2021, he has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy — a development programme that has guided his progress both on and off the track. He credits the Academy for helping him grow as a complete racing driver.
“I mean, it’s very nice to have the support of them since 2021 I joined, and they really helped me to develop as a driver, as a person, understand what I needed to do, which we can on the mental side, physical, everything for being a better driver. They were there for me.”
That holistic support proved especially vital in a year where pressure mounted quickly. With F3 running on the F1 support bill at every round, Câmara found himself in an environment that brought added scrutiny — but also opportunity. Being part of Ferrari’s system gave him the tools to cope.
Motivation from the Scuderia
During the final rounds of the season, Câmara felt the presence of the Ferrari F1 team more than ever. Mechanics, media staff, and other representatives from Maranello were visible in the paddock — cheering him on and celebrating his victories. That visible support served as a powerful motivator.
“And then, yes, since I forged growing up, getting better, closer to my goal. And yet see all of them cheering for me. Yeah, very close. It’s also a good motivation means that we are part of it as well a bit of the team. And yeah, very happy. Also, I’m very thankful for all the support they gave to me. And we just try to give them the good things, some good results and try to give them some good memories and good achievements together.”
That visible backing confirmed that Câmara is more than just a name on the Academy roster. It reinforced that Ferrari views him as a meaningful part of its future talent pipeline — and that belief continues to push him forward.
Eyes on the future
As he prepares to wrap up the season and likely step up to F2 in 2026, Rafael Câmara remains a grounded yet ambitious figure. He understands that success at this level isn’t the result of individual brilliance alone — it’s the product of preparation, relationships, and resilience.
Through Trident’s structure and the Ferrari Driver Academy’s support, Câmara has laid down a blueprint for sustainable growth. He does not just want to win races; he wants to keep improving, keep learning, and one day reach the ultimate goal: F1.
