The penultimate round of the 2025 F3 Championship began with a statement of intent from Rafael Câmara, who topped the timesheets in Free Practice at the Hungarian GP. The Trident driver and Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member set a benchmark of 1:33.888, edging AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides by just under a tenth as the field began their preparations for what could be a decisive weekend in the title fight.
A strong start amid high stakes
Câmara, who leads the 2025 F3 championship entering the Hungarian GP weekend, looked assured from the outset. Speaking after the session, the Brazilian reflected positively on his initial runs and the overall feeling in the car.
“Already from the first lap I had a good feeling with the car,” he said. “After that I was just building my session and was able to do another good lap. Then we stopped a bit to cool the tyres, and I just felt comfortable.”
Despite finishing on top of F3 Free Practice at the Hungarian GP, Câmara remained level-headed. With experience of the Hungaroring’s tricky nature, he was quick to downplay the significance of being fastest in Free Practice.
“It’s always good to start on a high, but there’s still a big job to do in Qualifying. It doesn’t change anything to be P1 in FP—you could still end up at the back. So I’ll just be focusing with the team to make sure we have everything in the right spot to do a good job.”
Navigating the traffic challenge
The 4.381km Hungaroring circuit is renowned for its narrow layout and technical corners, which often create traffic headaches during Qualifying. Even in Free Practice at the Hungarian GP, drivers struggled to find clear air, a problem Câmara anticipates will be magnified in the crucial F3 session to follow.
“I think traffic will be a big point for Qualifying. We’ve seen here in the past, especially in sector three where everybody slows down, it can be a complete disaster to open your lap,” he explained.
Câmara confirmed that the team would hold detailed discussions ahead of the session to minimise the risk of getting caught in traffic and ensure he has the best chance of securing his fifth pole position of the season.
“We’re going to make sure we do the right plan to not put ourselves in that position. I’ll just focus on myself, focus on the driving and with the team to discuss before and make sure we have the right plan.”
Preparing for the switch to mediums
While Free Practice ran on the hard Pirelli compound, drivers will switch to the medium tyres for Qualifying. This change will bring increased grip but also require careful car setup adjustments to account for balance shifts.
“The Mediums—we’ll have a bit more grip, and the track should be a bit better with F1 rubber down. So we’ll need to make changes on the car to be in the right spot for Qualifying,” Câmara explained.
Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that Trident’s experience and preparation would pay dividends.
“We’re already at the end of the season and have good experience, so I think we know where we’re going to go. I’ll just focus on the driving and try to get another pole.”
A title in sight
Câmara enters the Budapest round with an opportunity to seal the championship if results fall in his favour. Though mathematically, thirteen drivers remain in contention, the Trident driver holds the momentum—and the upper hand—following consistent performances throughout the season.
“It’s obviously easy to say that sat here than it will be in Qualifying,” he said, “but I think we’ll be in contention later on.”
With strong one-lap pace already evident in Free Practice and a composed mindset heading into the business end of the Hungarian GP weekend, Rafael Câmara looks poised to continue his charge toward the 2025 F3 title. However, with tight margins, evolving track conditions, and traffic playing a central role at the Hungaroring, nothing is guaranteed.
