Rafael Câmara takes pole position for the F3 2025 Australian Grand Prix, in an eventful first qualifying session.
All drivers have hit the track for thirty minutes of qualifying. With an extremely tight FP1 this morning, it is anyone’s game.
Early Flying Laps
All eyes are on the homeboy James Wharton as he hopes to be the first ever Australian driver to set foot on the Australian podium.
The first flying lap was set by Roman Bilinski in Rodin, who set the pace with an early 1.36.125. However, it is short-lived with Noah Strømsted being the first driver to dip into the 1:35s. The Danish driver set a time of 1.35.898
Bruno Del Pino had a moment, forcing him to bale out of a flying lap. In turn 1, the Spaniard ended up going straight through the gravel. He was able to continue with no damaged.
James Wharton has not had the weekend he has expected, struggling in the ART car. Seeing himself in P28 with 20 minutes remaining.
Nikita Bedrin stuns everyone, managing to put his car on a provisional pole with less than twenty minutes remaining in the session. The driver who stepped in this weekend with no testing looks to be fairing well in Melbourne. Bedrin has set the time to beat with a 1.35.873.
Half way checkpoint
With less than 15 minutes remaining, the top three are Théophile Naël, who set the fastest time of 1.35.566. Close behind are Nikita Bedrin and Noah Strømsted, within a second of the VAR driver.
With the majority of the grid in the pits, Tramnitz and Câmara manage to set flying laps. The Red Bull academy driver set a 1.35.8, putting himself in fourth position. However, the Ferrari academy driver of Câmara sets a 1:34.999, seven-tenths faster than Nikita Bedrin, who previously had the fastest time.
The battle begins to heat up in the final ten minutes, with an intense battle between the two trident teammates of Câmara and Strømsted. Câmara remains in front, with his teammate 0.129 behind him.
Final runs
The final 8 minutes will be where the most happens. Drivers are all fighting for track position to set themselves up for a fast lap. James Wharton needs to find seven tenths of a second to make his way up into the top twelve, giving himself the best possible chance for a great
A red flag is brought out with less than five minutes remaining. As Brando Badoer has an unlucky spin into the first turn, sustaining damage to his rear wing. The session timer has stopped with five minutes and twenty seconds remaining in the session.
Green Flag resumes
With 5 minutes remaining in the session, all drivers are rushing out onto the track for their chance at pole position. There is just enough time for one flying lap for all the drivers.
Nael had to stop on track as the cooler was left in his car. Therefore, he was no longer able to partake in the session. He was then noted by the FIA for an unsafe release. VAR will be investigated after the session.
Christian Ho is stopped in the middle of the track, bringing out the red flag with under three minutes to go.
With two minutes and thirty-six seconds remaining, the session will not be resumed. Trident have continued their winning ways, securing a 1-2 finish in Qualifying with Théophile Naël in third.
The Aussie driver of Wharton will start both races down in 22nd. But in Formula 3 anything is possible.
An all-rookie top three will likely cause chaos on Sunday, but all eyes are no on tomorrow’s sprint race for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
Feature Image Credit: Ferrari Driver Academy on Instagram
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