One point in a race interrupted twice

The FIA Formula 3 Championship returned to action at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which hosts the sixth round of the series this weekend. In a fiercely contested qualifying session, the Trident Motorsport drivers demonstrated impressive pace.

Freddie Slater secured his second pole position of the FIA Formula 3 Championship, repeating the feat achieved at the previous round at Silverstone. The seventeen-year-old Briton was clinical and decisive in setting the benchmark time, despite grip levels being compromised by the rain that affected the session. Although he set the fourth-fastest time, Noah Strømsted received a five-place grid penalty—applicable to both the Sprint Race and Sunday’s longer race—following his involvement in a multi-car collision. Matteo De Palo struggled to shine due to heavy traffic during the crucial moments of the session.

The Sprint Race got off to a difficult start for the McLaren Junior Driver; lingering adjustments to his car on the grid forced him to start from the pit lane. The race, interrupted by two safety car periods, did not play into the Roman driver's hands, and he ultimately took the chequered flag in twenty-third place.

Freddie Slater’s Sprint Race lasted only a few kilometers. Starting from eleventh on the grid—due to the reverse-grid rule applied to the top twelve qualifiers—the Englishman was involved in a collision during the opening corners that forced his retirement. Noah Strømsted flew the flag for Trident Motorsport: starting from fourteenth place—partly due to a penalty—the eighteen-year-old Dane immediately fought his way up the field, capitalizing on every opportunity to secure a solid tenth-place finish.

Trident Motorsport’s drivers will now review today’s events with the technical staff as part of their standard preparations for the Feature Race, scheduled for tomorrow at 8:30 AM.

Giacomo Ricci: “We come away from today’s Sprint Race with one point on the board. Freddie Slater was forced to retire following a collision. Noah Strømsted recovered to tenth place, while Matteo De Palo started from the back of the pack. The interrupted pace affected the flow of the race and prevented our drivers from achieving a better result. Today’s race didn’t have a major impact on the standings, but I have high expectations for tomorrow’s Feature Race.”