‘It is something really special’ – Chris McCarthy reflects on his time at the Barcelona pre-season test

The 2026 FIA Formula 3 campaign got underway earlier this month, as the entire paddock took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for three days of pre-season testing.

Also in attendance was F1 TV’s Lead Commentator, for both Formula 2 and Formula 3, Chris McCarthy, as both he and co-F3 commentator Piers Prior, watched the action closely from the pitlane and the grandstands.

After the test, we caught up with McCarthy to get his thoughts on his time in Barcelona, and what it was like to be up close with both the drivers and their cars for the first time.

“It's been amazing to be here. It’s my first experience of seeing the cars in person, and the first reaction I had was just the sheer noise they produce, it sounds absolutely fantastic. They're so loud, louder than I expected them to be, and they look absolutely amazing as well.

“But also seeing the performance of the cars, I didn't realise how quick they were down the straights, and Piers and I have been able to just see the behaviour of the cars through the corners and how different they are on quali runs and on race runs as well.

“Also seeing how different drivers attack those quali runs and race runs, and then seeing the how they come through the corners and how much they have to attack them, being able to witness that from the side of the track, it is something really special.

“You also see just how much pressure the drivers are under on a qualifying lap, and there's nothing like witnessing that on the side of the track from beyond the barrier, so that's been the best thing to be able to witness up close.

“That’s something that unless I'd come here, I wouldn't have been able to know, and we can now give that in the commentary. Overall the experience has been incredible. To get to see the cars, see the drivers, see the teams as well, and I think we can see already how close this season is going to be as well.”

When asked what his main takeaways were from the test, McCarthy noted a few things down, from the competitiveness of the Championship to the performance of the cars and drivers.

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“One, is that it's going to be very competitive this season. Until this day three afternoon, there weren't really any Red Flags, which I think shows that everyone's coming into the season really well prepared for it.

“We did see some great times from Freddie Slater, but I think overall the times have been really close, so I think we're going to see a very competitive season.

“Getting into the top 12 in Qualifying is going to be very difficult to do on a consistent basis, so that's one of the main takeaways.

“I think for all the seasons we've had in Formula 3, I think this is going to be the closest one that we've ever had. I don't think there's a real group of drivers you could put that are going to be breaking away from the rest of the field. I think it's going to be really close, and we're going to get a lot of different drivers on the podium.”

McCarthy and Prior spent a lot of time not only watching on from the pitlane but speaking to some familiar faces in the paddock, including drivers he had previously met in other Championships.

“A lot of the drivers I had not met before, some of them I haven't seen in a few years, so it's good to see them again. You can see that they have definitely all matured in their approach to racing, and racing in general.

“You can tell how much more serious they are now they're in Formula 3. I think speaking to some of the drivers from when I knew them, racing in Formula Regional to now, you can see that they know they're going into what could be a life or career-changing season for them.

“They can see that F1 is now just up the road, and you get that sense from them even though we are just in pre-season testing, you really get the sense that they feel that they're going into something big.

“They know that if they put in a big performance this season then their careers, their life could change forever, and anyone that's put on F1 clothing, you can see that there is a bit of a change in them as well.

“They know that they've almost got a responsibility now on them as well, so seeing that change in some of the drivers has been really good to witness.”

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Next up for both the Formula 3 drivers and their teams, as well as McCarthy, is Round 1 in Melbourne. Looking ahead to the Albert Park action, he shared what excites him the most about the upcoming race weekend.

“The thing I'm excited for most is definitely Melbourne qualifying. It's always one of the best qualifying sessions of the season, because we never know what's going to happen.

“Every driver I spoke to, that was the circuit they said they're looking forward to the most, mainly because most of them haven't been there. A lot of them are going to go there about five days in advance just to get used to the time zone.

“I think F3 provides the best races around there because of the four DRS zones, but before that, it's that one lap shot that they get around there.

“I think qualifying around Melbourne is going to be absolutely fantastic, and to see who gets in that top 12. I couldn't really pick a favourite here right now, so I'd say that's the best part of it all.”