FIA F3 returned to Belgium for the 2026 Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race at the Belgian GP after a chaotic, rain-hit Qualifying session. Freddie Slater, who capitalised early in the session, claimed his second straight pole. Tuukka Taponen took P2, while Hiyu Yamakoshi completed the top three.
The rain grew heavier during the closing stages, leaving the drivers with little grip and poor visibility. Qualifying ended early after Noah Strømsted collided with Yevan David near Turn 14, bringing out the red flag. The session was not resumed due to the increased downpour at Spa-Francorchamps. The stewards later held Strømsted mainly responsible and handed him a five-place grid penalty.
Jin Nakamura initially secured reverse-grid pole after setting the 12th fastest time. However, he received a three-place penalty for driving too slowly on the racing line. That dropped Nakamura down the order and promoted Brando Badoer to Sprint Race pole, with Pedro Clerot joining him on the front row.
The stewards penalised 11 drivers in total following the disrupted session. The offences included causing a collision, driving too slowly, gaining places in the queue and weaving. Those decisions reshaped much of the grid and added another twist ahead of Saturday’s race at Spa.
Chaotic start causes Safety Car in Lap 1 of the F3 Sprint Race
During the formation Lap, Matteo De Palo was penalised due to changing his tyres to late, leaving him to start from the pit lane. With the track going green, Badoer led the grid into the 2026 F3 Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race at the Belgian GP. Badoer got a clean start as he could stay clear ahead, though Clerot in second needed to defend his place from Mattia Colnaghi and Nakamura, only being able to stay ahead of Colnaghi as Nakamura went up to P2.
Colnaghi hit Hiyu Yamakoshi, triggering a yellow flag that later became a Safety Car after a second collision. Shortly afterwards, Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater collided, forcing the pole-sitter for Sunday’s Belgian GP Feature Race out of the Sprint after he was unable to recover his car. Ugochukwu appeared to have a broken suspension, as he went into the pits and came back out on track being one lap down to the rest of the grid. Yamakoshi recieved a 10-second time penalty for more than one change of direction.
Nakamura takes control as battles intensify throughout the field
With the Safety Car heading back into the pits, Nakamura put his foot down as he overtook Badoer to claim the lead of the F3 Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race. Badoer, in P2 was then under pressure from his teammate Clerot behind, though the Rodin drivers needed to stay in reach of Nakamura to be able to capitalise on using DRS on the following lap.
Taito Kato went wide as he tried to overtake Colnaghi for P4 as the fight at the front went on with Badoer trying to get ahead of Nakamura while having to defend from Clerot behind him. A bit further down the order, Théophile Nael was pushing to get past Kato as the Frenchman went through up to P5. Meanwhile Tuukka Taponen went wide as Ernesto Rivera caused him to go wide, though Taponen was able to put himself up into P7.
Nakamura survives late restart drama to claim maiden F3 victory
Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi went through the gravel and into a board, leaving debris on track, causing a second Safety Car to be out on track. This left Nakamura with the task to defend his lead during a restart period.
With 2 laps left, Nakamura led the grid through the second Safety Car restart of the F3 Sprint Race. Nakamura lost his rear of his Hitech machinery on the restart, leaving Badoer right behind him in reach for the lead and win of the race. Further back, Kato was able to overtake Naël again, putting himself into P5, though Naël tried to overtake Kato again as the Campos Racing driver pushed Kato off the track giving Kato back fifth place.
On the final lap, Nakamura was able to extend the gap to Badoer, allowing the Japanese driver his maiden F3 race win, with Badoer and Clerot finishing on the podium for the Sprint Race during the F3 Spa-Francorchamps Round.
