‘More speed and adrenaline’ - Rafael Câmara excited to be joining Trident for 2025 season

29 November 2024

Rafael Câmara is excited to be joining the 2025 grid with Trident, as he talked through his first few weeks with the team, his first impressions on the Formula 3 car and his preparations for the season.

The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member was confirmed to have signed for the Italian outfit last month after winning the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine. Speaking about his confirmation, he expressed his delight at joining them.

“I'm with a really strong team,” said Câmara. “They have been very competitive the last two years, they've won the Drivers' Championship, so this is very exciting for me, I am very excited.

“It will be a new car next year so it will be a new challenge for everyone. We need to make sure we are very focused at the pre-season test, that we develop the car as much as we can and be ready for Round 1, which is very important so that we can start the Championship in a good way.

“On my side, with a new car, we are integrating very well, it feels very nice to drive. You have more speed in the corners, so you feel more adrenaline when driving, so that's good, there is more and more speed, so very happy and very excited.”

He later added: “I have been working with Trident, they are very good people, they have a lot of experience, and I am quite sure that we can do a good job together and I am happy with the decision I took.”

Câmara is pleased to be working with Trident ahead of the 2025 F3 season

Câmara got his first taste of working with his new team and of the Formula 3 car at the two post-season tests in Jerez and Barcelona last month, and he explained what he learned across the four days of running.

“I feel like Jerez was okay but not what I expected,” he explained. “It's a big jump from FRECA and on the physical side I was not as ready. So, I think the first time I drove the car, I put more effort than what you actually need.

“But it was good to feel the car and to feel more at home in it and to get more comfortable and Barcelona just put more things into place. Obviously, there is still more work to do, but Barcelona was a decent test for me.

“I was working with the team, and we were quite happy, and we were getting use to this new format in Qualifying where you have one push, in FRECA you have at least four laps. In F3, you can have Red Flags, so you need to make sure that your first lap, but also every lap you do has to be a decent lap.

“We also did long runs, we were very competitive, even if I was struggling in terms on the physical side but it went pretty well. Every long run we did I was improving, I also used that to know how the tyres work during the long run, how everything works, how you can manage the tyres better, so I think it's just by driving more and more that you get more comfortable.

“So, it was good, it gives us more confidence for next year because I think we don't have a lot of time to test so I think we are already in a decent place.

Câmara was pleased with his post-season testing especially the two days in Barcelona

“I know it will not be easy as this Championship is highly competitive, so I will just keep working on myself, keep working hard, seeing the things that I can improve and make sure that I will be as ready as possible for the first test.”

Câmara’s move to F3 is not the only new change for him in 2025. His move to Trident will also be very new given that he has only ever driven for PREMA Racing since making the step up to single seater racing in 2022.

However, there will be an element of familiarity as he revealed that he and Charlie Wurz have previously been teammates, while he raced against Noah Stromsted this year.

“Charlie was my teammate in F4 back in 2022, so we are seeing each other again as teammates,” he said. “Noah, I saw him this year in Regional but before we didn't have anything close, so it has been nice.

“Noah was quite quick, and Charlie has the experience of last year so it's good to develop the car for next year, because he has more experience, so he knows more or less what we need on a race weekend with the car.

“It's also good to have drivers that are fast so we can push each other inside the team, especially as we are so limited on the runs. We can look at each other's data, see how we can improve as quick as we can to be fast for quali.”

Câmara will be working hard over the winter to prepare himself physically for next season

Câmara now has a couple of months off before returning to the paddock for pre-season testing. A trip home to Brazil is on the cards, as is rest and a lot of gym work.

“I think I will be doing a lot of physical work,” he said when talking about his winter plans. “I was struggling a bit in the test, so I will be training a lot to be ready for the first test.

“But it has been a long year, so even if you love what you do, at some point you need a rest, and always when you go back home, you recharge.

“It's a bit funny because you are a bit tired after all the championships and test, but you do one week and you are already missing it and want to go back.

“But obviously I can use this break, I will rest, recharge and make sure that I am focused and ready for next year and also preparing to be in the best physical shape.”