Spa, one point off the top
The Feature Race concluding the sixth round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit saw Trident Motorsport secure a podium finish. Freddie Slater crossed the line in third place. It was a more troubled race for Noah Strømsted, who narrowly missed out on the points, while Matteo De Palo was forced to retire early on.
Freddie Slater was the standout performer in the Ardennes. The 17-year-old Briton had secured the second pole position of his FIA Formula 3 Championship career during qualifying. However, the Audi Junior Driver was unable to capitalize on it because his car’s anti-stall system engaged when the lights went out. Slater was overtaken by his rivals, dropping to third place. Undeterred, the Briton began a recovery drive following the neutralization period. He first closed the gap and then reclaimed the race lead within the span of two laps. Just as victory seemed within reach, Slater suffered a drastic drop in tire performance with three laps remaining. The Trident Motorsport driver paid the price for pushing hard to recover the positions lost at the start; unable to defend his lead, he ultimately slipped back to third place.
Notwithstanding this, the third-place finish allows Freddie Slater to hold onto second place in the FIA Formula 3 Championship drivers' standings, sitting just one point behind the leader.
Starting from ninth on the grid—due to a five-place grid penalty—Noah Strømsted was forced to fight his way back through the field. While battling in traffic, the 18-year-old Dane pushed his tires too hard. This backfired in the closing laps, as Strømsted lost ground to his rivals, eventually slipping back to finish in eleventh place.
Matteo De Palo’s Feature Race lasted just one lap. Starting from eighteenth on the grid, the McLaren Junior Driver was involved in a collision during the opening corners. The eighteen-year-old Roman returned to the pits with a bent suspension and steering rod; there was nothing to be done, and De Palo was forced to retire early.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship returns to action as early as next week. The series will tackle its third back-to-back race weekend of the season at the Hungaroring, located just outside Budapest.
Giacomo Ricci: “It was an eventful Feature Race. Thanks to his podium finish, Freddie Slater has made significant progress in the championship standings, where he is now just one point off the lead. The British driver was forced to ease off in the closing stages due to excessive tire wear, having pushed the tires hard during his recovery drive. Noah Strømsted faced the same issue, narrowly missing out on the points. It is a real shame for Matteo De Palo, who was forced to retire following a racing incident.”