PREVIEW: Ready to go at Round 3 in Barcelona

The first back-to-back of the season takes us to Barcelona and familiar territory for all the teams and drivers for the third race weekend of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 campaign.

After the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo, it’s the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this time around for what will surely be a closely contested weekend.

Here is all you need to know…

WHAT TO EXPECT

Barcelona is a track that everyone knows well by virtue of it hosting testing plenty of times over the years, most recently during pre-season testing ahead of the 2026 season.

Action kicks off in Free Practice, scheduled for 09:55 local time before Qualifying later in the day to set the grid for both races. The half-hour session is set to go green at 15:00 local time. The first of the races takes place on Saturday, with lights out in the Sprint Race timetabled for 10:05 in the morning.

Sunday’s Feature Race brings the round to a close, with lights out scheduled at 08:40 local time. Pirelli has brought the Hard compound tyre for this weekend’s event.

STAT PACK

• Bruno del Pino remains the only driver to have scored points in every race so far in 2026
• There is a 57% conversion rate from Pole Position in the F3 Feature Race around Barcelona
• Théophile Nael is yet to miss out on Pole Position so far in 2026, taking P1 in Melbourne and Monaco
• PREMA Racing is the most successful F3 team around Barcelona, with seven wins since 2019

FROM THE GRID – Pedro Clerot, Rodin Motorsport

“It’s a very fast and flowing track, quite technical and also with a lot of degradation. Turn 10 is the best place to overtake, a well-timed divebomb into there is good.

“Degradation is the hardest part though, it’s a high-energy track. Barcelona is a good track, the city is great, food too! Weather is usually quite okay so overall it’s quite a good combo.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 3 Technical Director

“Tyre management is the crucial factor this weekend, with the drivers that are able to keep the Pirelli tyres in the best condition reaping rewards, particularly at the end of the races.

“We’ve seen Qualifying decided by tight margins in recent years with everyone already having a great understanding of the track via past visits and pre-season testing.

“Downforce demand is relatively high also, but too much drag can leave drivers vulnerable to being overtaken, particularly down into Turn 1, which represents the heaviest braking zone around the lap.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

The Hard compound has been selected for the race weekend in Barcelona, a circuit where lateral loads on the tyres are high due to the number of high-speed corners. The front axle is the most limiting for this reason and will require greater management from the drivers. This year, rear axle pressures will be set 1 psi higher than last season to increase degradation. As a result, drivers will need to adapt their tyre management approach, but this will make it easier for them to control the limiting axle.