Rafael Câmara wins in a wet and safety car-filled 2025 Australian Grand Prix. Becoming the first Formula 3 race winner for 2025.
The Formation lap will begin behind the safety car on wet weather tyres. With 23 laps ahead of these drivers and uncertainty in the weather it is set to be a chaotic Grand Prix.
Starting behind the safety car
This is the first time these drivers will be racing in these wet conditions, with many using the laps behind the safety car to find the grip on the track.
To start the race, there will be three laps behind the safety car. Following that, the race will begin with a rolling start for the safety of the drivers. This allows the young drivers to get accustomed to the conditions before one of the biggest tests these drivers will face.
Stebshorne’s engineer provided an update on the weather. Stating there would be no more rain for twenty-five minutes. With slight rain appearing again at the closing stages of the session.
There will now be four laps behind the safety car to help drivers with visibility and create a dry line.
Rolling start
The Safety car has pulled into the pit lane, and Câmara prepares to lead the field away. Going down in turn one, the Brazilian remains in pole. Managed to create a major gap for his teammates.
A clean start for the field, with all thirty drivers making it through the first lap. Something very few expected considering the treacherous conditions.
Câmara managed to find the pace and grip that no one else has managed. Keeping a cool head out front he already has a 2.14s lead over his teammate on the first lap.
The safety car is deployed. Tsolov and Voisin had a collision at turn six. With both drivers ending up in the grass. Neither are able to continue, marking a difficult weekend for the pair.
Safety Car pulls in again
The rain is set to resume soon, with Nikita Bedrin’s engineer stating the rain will come in the next ten minutes. Progressively getting heavier as well.
At the end of lap 5, the safety car comes into the pits. Câmara is under pressure again, however, after his last restart he will be hoping to reenact it.
As the circuit goes green, Câmara manages to find the grip where no one else can and builds a gap immediately.
Yesterday’s race winner, Ramos, goes wide into turn one. Ending up in a massive puddle, the Mexican has a mini spin. However, he manages to keep his car running and the right way around. However, drops down to eighteenth.
At the end of the sixth lap, the Trident driver has a 2.319-second gap to his teammate behind him. Demonstrating his class as a driver.
The McLaren drivers of Ugochukwu and Stenshorne battle it out for P8. The Norwegian gets passed the American driver after positioning his car perfectly.
Elsewhere, Turn nine and ten seem to be difficult for the drivers. A turn which saw many drivers struggling earlier this weekend was made worse due to the pouring rain.
With half the race ahead, Câmara has pulled out a 4-second lead to those behind him. Behind him Matías Zagazeta tags Alessandro Giusti, causing damage to both drivers in the final turn. On the positive side, both drivers were able to continue the race, with Giusti dropping down to twenty-seventh. Zagazeta was awarded a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision.
The rain intensified with seven laps remaining. The safety car is deployed, as Christian Ho has a major collision with the wall on the exit of turn 6.
Rain continues
The heavy rain continues with only five laps remaining. However, Noel Leon’s race engineer believes that the rain will slow down when the safety car is pulled back in.
The session has been red-flagged due to the worsening conditions around Albert Park. The session will not be resumed for the safety of the drivers.
Rafael Câmara wins the 2025 Australian Grand Prix in Formula 3. The Ferrari Academy driver adapted the fastest and ultimately secured the title lead, leaving Australia.
Formula 3’s first podium for 2025 is Rafael Câmara, followed by his teammate Noah Strømsted. Théophile Naël comes home in third to round out the podium.
Feature Image Credit: Dutch Photo Agency