Jin Nakamura secured his maiden F3 victory in a dramatic sprint race at the 2026 Belgian GP.
After a controlled race from the Hitech driver, it was a double podium for Rodin Motorsport with Brando Badoer and Pedro Clarot claiming second and third respectively.
So far this Weekend…
Formula 3 was back for the 2026 Belgium Grand Prix and it was Feddie Slater who claimed pole in a chaotic qualifying. The changeable condition in Spa ended the session early with Slater our qualifying Tuukka Taponen and Hiyu Yamakoshji in second and third respectively.
However several drivers were handed post-qualifying penalties overnight reshaping the starting grid. Noah Stromsted was handed a five-place grid penalty for both races after causing a collision with Yevan David.
Theophile Nael, Taito Kato, Louis Sharp, James Wharton, Jin Nakamura as well as Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi have been penalised for driving unnecessarily slowly on the racing line. As a result, the Stewards have assigned a three-place grid drop to each of those drivers apart from Nael, who has been given a five-place grid penalty.
Campos Racing driver Ugo Ugochukwu and DAMS Lucas Oil’s Gerrard Xie were also been penalised for driving unnecessarily slow on the racing line as well as for leaving the track without justifiable cause and gaining a position in the queue. The Stewards gave both drivers two separate three-place grid penalties for both races.
Finally, Van Amersfoort Racing’s Bruno del Pino and PREMA Racing’s José Garfias were also been given a three-place grid penalty for weaving. They will serve the penalties in both the Sprint and Feature Races in Spa.
Lights Out to Safety Car
It was lights out for the F3 Sprint Race and it was Brando Badoer who charged into the lead. Behind Jin Nakamura and Pedro Clarot battled for second down Kemmel straight.
After the first few corners chaos erupted, championship rivals Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater collided at Les Combes. Slater was sent into the wall, while Ugochukwu damaged his suspension bringing out the Safety Car.
Further behind, Hiyu Yamakoshi and Mattia Colnaghi also collided, with the former sent down into 26th. With both championship leaders out of the race, the field was bunched behind the Safety Car. After three laps of neutralised racing, it was Badoer who was able to retain his lead off the restart.
Heading out of Les Combes, Nakamura claimed the lead ahead of the two Rodin drivers. As the Hitech driver began to pull away, it was Claret who closed in on his teammate. Outside of the podium, it was Colnaghi and Taito Kato who were in a fierce battle for fourth.
Battles at Halfway
With six laps down and six to go, it was Nael who joined the party. After a dominant start to the season, the Frenchman was on the hunt for valuable points passing Kato for fifth. Behind, Ernesto Rivera and Tuukka Taponen were forcing each other off track at every turn.
With four laps remaining, the Ferrari Junior Academy driver made the pass for seventh. However, he didn’t hold the place for long as Rivera retook the position down Kemmel straight.
On Lap 8, the second Safety Car of the Sprint Race was produced after Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi ran through the gravel and a foam barrier at the exit of Turn 1.
Sprint for the Flag
Off track, Kato was being investigated for a starting procedure incident. With two laps remaining, the Safety Car was called in. On the exit of the final corner, Nakamura lost his line, bringing Baoder into prime position to fight for the lead.
Behind, Kato overtook Nael for fifth, the pair going wheel to wheel through the final chicane. The ART driver went wide, but was able to secure his position.
With the final seven kilometres ahead of the F3 field, the fight was over for Badoer as Nakamura pulled to over nine tenths ahead. With a clean last lap, it was Nakamura who claimed his first victory in F3. Badoer claimed another podium for the season ahead of teammate Clerot to give Rodin a double podium.
Colnaghi finished fourth ahead of Kato and nail. Taponen finished in seventh ahead of Rivera for the final points paying position. Alessandro Giusti and Noah Stromstead rounded out the top ten.
Formula 3 will return tomorrow at 8:30am track time for the Feature Race at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix.
Feature Image Credits: Formula 3 via X