Maksimilian Popov completed a breakthrough 2026 Spa-Francorchamps weekend by converting pole position into his maiden FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) victory in Race 3.
The Trident Motorsport driver controlled the race from the front and became the sixth different winner from six different teams in the opening seven races of the 2026 FREC season. His victory followed his first single-seater pole position earlier on Sunday, underlining a major turnaround after a challenging run of recent rounds.
Alexander Abkhazava finished second for MP Motorsport after a strong recovery drive, while Rashid Al Dhaheri completed the podium for R-ace GP. Al Dhaheri also set the fastest lap, and the bonus point moved him into the championship lead by one point over Sebastian Wheldon.
Popov celebrates a special Spa victory
Popov entered Race 3 from pole after topping Qualifying 2 earlier in the day. He then made a strong start and held the lead into La Source, despite early pressure behind him.
Although the race featured two late Safety Car periods, Popov kept control whenever he needed to respond. As a result, he secured a lights-to-flag victory and delivered Trident Motorsport’s first win of the 2026 FREC season.
“It’s been an incredible day, to be honest. After yesterday, which was quite difficult for us with the race being postponed and all the uncertainty surrounding the schedule, to come away with both pole position and the win feels amazing.
“The car was fantastic throughout, and I’m extremely grateful to the team for all their hard work. I also want to thank my parents and everyone who continues to support me. Winning at Spa is something really special and a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into Monza and keep building on what we achieved here.”
The result marked a significant moment in Popov’s rookie campaign. He had shown pace earlier in the season, but Spa finally gave him the complete result after a strong qualifying performance and a composed race drive.
Abkhazava returns to the front
Behind Popov, Abkhazava produced one of the standout drives of Race 3. The MP Motorsport driver gained three positions from his starting place and secured his first podium in Formula Regional competition.
He fought through a busy race behind the leader, as the order shifted during the opening laps. After moving into podium contention, he continued to make progress and eventually crossed the line second.
“It feels really good to be back at the front. I had a decent start to the season, but I struggled quite a bit over the last few rounds, so it’s great to finally be back in contention. It was a tough race with plenty of overtaking and some really good battles along the way. To come away with this result means a lot, and I’m very happy with what we achieved today.”
His podium also added to MP Motorsport’s strong start to the campaign, even though Wheldon endured a more difficult Race 3 and finished 10th after losing ground during the contest.
Al Dhaheri takes championship lead
Al Dhaheri started from the front row and remained firmly in the lead fight throughout Race 3. He briefly lost ground in the opening exchanges, but he regained second from Alexandre Munoz at La Source on lap three before settling into the podium battle.
Although Abkhazava later moved ahead, Al Dhaheri still collected a valuable third place. Moreover, his fastest lap gave him an extra point, which proved enough to move him to the top of the championship standings.
“To be honest, it’s a very long championship, so at this stage the focus is simply on taking it race by race, being smart and scoring as many points as possible. Overall, I think this weekend showed that we have what it takes to fight at the front. As a team, we found something really positive in terms of pace, and that’s very encouraging for the rest of the season. Now it’s all about keeping our heads down, continuing to work hard and building on the momentum we’ve created here.”
Therefore, Al Dhaheri left Spa with more than just a podium. He also carried momentum into the next round after proving R-ace GP could consistently fight at the front across changing conditions.
Saeter tops the rookies for G4 Racing
Marcus Sæter also enjoyed a strong Race 3, finishing seventh overall and taking rookie honours for G4 Racing. The result continued his progress after a difficult Red Bull Ring weekend and gave the team a positive platform before Monza.
Sæter finished ahead of fellow rookies Emanuele Olivieri and Race 1 winner Alexandre Munoz, who completed the top nine. His performance also showed G4 Racing’s improvement during a demanding Spa weekend.
“I think we’re working very hard as a team and, with such a long championship ahead of us, there’s still plenty to play for. If we keep progressing like this, I’m confident we can achieve something special by the end of the season.
“It was a great weekend here at Spa and now the focus shifts to Monza, a circuit I know well. With its long straights, managing the Race Mode push-to-pass system will be particularly important, so we’ll need to be smart and strategic in how we use it throughout the race.
“We’ve been working hard together at G4 Racing, especially after the Red Bull Ring weekend didn’t go the way we wanted. We spent a lot of time analysing what went wrong and identifying the areas where we could improve. I think we’ve done a good job, and this weekend’s result shows that we’re moving in the right direction.”
With Monza next on the calendar, Sæter highlighted the importance of strategy and Race Mode management. That focus could prove crucial on a circuit where slipstreaming and straight-line performance often shape the outcome.
Late Safety Cars halt the fight
Race 3 featured plenty of action before the late interruptions. Munoz briefly appeared to take the lead after an ambitious move around the outside at the end of the Kemmel Straight, but he cut the chicane and had to hand the position back.
Further back, Abkhazava, Jan Przyrowski, Kean Nakamura-Berta and Alex Ninovic all played key roles in the battle behind Popov. However, the race changed when Saqer Almaosherji stopped at the Bus Stop chicane following contact with Miguel Costa.
The Safety Car erased Popov’s advantage, but racing only resumed briefly before another incident involving Salim Hanna and Dion Gowda triggered a second Safety Car. With too little time left for another restart, the race ended behind the Safety Car.
Popov carries momentum towards Monza
Popov’s victory gave Trident Motorsport a major boost and added another layer to an already unpredictable FREC season. Six different drivers from six different teams have now won across the opening seven races, which highlights the depth and competitiveness of the field.
For Popov, the Spa weekend delivered a personal milestone and a clear sign of progress. For Abkhazava, it marked a return to contention. Meanwhile, Al Dhaheri left Belgium with the championship lead and renewed confidence in R-ace GP’s pace.
As the championship moves on to Monza, the Spa Race 3 podium leaves each driver with a different kind of momentum. Popov has a first win, Abkhazava has a breakthrough podium, and Al Dhaheri has the points lead.
