As the 2025 FIA F3 Championship hurtles towards its conclusion in Monza, Van Amersfoort Racing’s Théophile Naël is navigating the fine line between performance and recovery. The 18-year-old Frenchman, who secured the 2023 F4 Spanish Championship, has proven his speed and composure in a fiercely competitive field, securing three podium finishes this season: third in Melbourne, second in Barcelona, and another second at Silverstone.
Now sitting seventh in the standings with 70 points after nine rounds, Naël reflects on the rigours of the 2025 campaign, the challenges of a relentless calendar, and the importance of staying grounded both on and off track.
A season of relentless momentum
The 2025 F3 calendar has tested drivers’ physical and mental endurance more than ever. From the Imola-Monaco-Spain triple header earlier in the summer to back-to-back races in Austria and Silverstone, and then the Spa-Hungary double header, the pace has been unrelenting. For a young driver like Naël, still adapting to the step up from F4, it has meant finding ways to manage fatigue without losing competitive sharpness.
In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief after the punishing triple header in May, Naël admitted the strain had been significant.
“Well, so yeah, for sure, the triple header was very intense. It was very hot in Barcelona and Monaco as well. So yeah, so after the triple header, for me, I just slept a lot, doing some sports step by step, you know, taking care of me, my food, everything. Because that’s also something hard to do is to eat well during the weekend. We cannot eat what we want. So yeah, so it’s [eating] well, doing some sports step by step, sleep well and just try to be ready for the next race. You won’t rest a month, you know what I mean.”
That mindset — gradual recovery, disciplined habits, and controlled physical activity — has been key to maintaining form over a season where margins are razor-thin.
Adapting to the demands of F3
The jump from to F3 is one of the most challenging in junior single-seaters. The car is faster, the competition deeper, and the race weekends longer and more complex. Add in the gruelling travel schedule and extreme weather conditions, and it becomes clear why recovery is not a luxury but a necessity.
Naël’s measured approach to post-race recuperation is not just about the physical side. In modern motorsport, drivers are as much mental athletes as physical ones, balancing the pressures of media attention, sponsor obligations, and internal team expectations alongside the on-track battle.
“You won’t rest a month, you know what I mean,” Naël remarked, summing up the reality of competing at this level. For him, the focus is on small, consistent steps to regain freshness rather than complete downtime — because in a ten-round season, the next challenge is never far away.
The role of mental resilience
Even with podiums to his name and a secure spot inside the top ten of the 2025 Championship, Naël knows that the fight in F3 is as much about mental clarity as raw pace. Between debriefs, simulator sessions, and travel, it would be easy for the mind to become clouded.
When asked how he keeps a sense of identity and balance beyond the pressures of racing, Naël was clear that his inner circle plays a central role.
“Yeah, of course. I think all the people who are with me, especially my family, some really good friends. I like to have a small quantity of friends, a small quantity of family really close to me. And for sure, we are speaking about everything, just to improve myself, to be really good in the mindset. So that’s something really important, I think, as well. In every sport, I think, yeah, mentally, we can do some mental exercise, but I think the most important thing is to be really good in the mind, to have the ideas really fresh.”
It is a philosophy that seems to be serving him well. In a championship where many young drivers risk pushing themselves to exhaustion, Naël understands that mental freshness is a competitive advantage.
Lessons from a breakthrough year
Naël’s rookie season in F3 has been one of steady progression. His Melbourne podium set an early marker, and his second places in Spain and Silverstone confirmed that he can regularly challenge at the sharp end. These results have come despite racing for a team still fighting to break into the very top tier in F3, which makes his achievements all the more impressive.
The French driver’s 2025 campaign has also been a study in adaptability. Hot street circuits like Monaco demand precision and composure; high-speed venues like Silverstone require bravery and commitment. The season’s variety — from the wet challenges of Spa to the heat of Barcelona — has forced Naël to broaden his skill set rapidly.
Looking ahead to Monza
With only the Monza finale remaining, Naël sits in seventh in the 2025 F3 standings, with an outside chance of climbing further if results fall his way. Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones will offer overtaking opportunities, but also demand precise car control and the ability to slipstream effectively — a skill he has already demonstrated this season.
For Naël, the finale is as much about execution as ambition. His methodical recovery process and strong support network have allowed him to approach each race with a clear head, a factor that could prove decisive in Italy.
