WHAT TO WATCH FOR: All the important factors to watch in Budapest

31 July 2025

The penultimate round of the 2025 campaign has arrived, and the title fight could be decided this weekend. Rafael Câmara and TRIDENT are the leaders heading to the Hungaroring, but there’s plenty to play for and changeable conditions may play a role once again.

Here are the big items to keep track of this weekend across Round 9 of the season.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS

The 2025 title could be wrapped up this weekend if results go the way of Championship leader Rafael Câmara. Currently on 126 points, the TRIDENT driver leads the way and has a 28-point advantage over closest challenger Nikola Tsolov.

The Bulgarian driver is a further five points ahead of Tim Tramnitz in third, with Mari Boya next best in fourth on 85 points.

The chasing pack need to stay within touching distance going into Monza to keep their hopes alive, though everyone down to Laurens van Hoepen in P13 remain in mathematical contention ahead of the Budapest weekend.

For the top contenders though, Feature Race victory could go a long way in improving their odds beyond the points picture currently.

Tsolov and Boya would be best served with a win on Sunday, able to take the title fight to Monza along with the hopes of catching Câmara’s three Feature Race win total at the final round.

Camara is the driver they're all chasing in Budapest

Should the title fight go to countback, the number of Feature Race victories will be the first factor taken into account, ahead of Sprint Race wins.

Tsolov and Boya have one apiece, but a win in Budapest leaves the door open for them to equal the three of Câmara at the final race of the season.

Otherwise, Câmara could eliminate his rivals by out-scoring Tsolov by 12 points this weekend, Tramnitz by seven and if Boya fails to out-score him by three points in Budapest.

A lot of permutations to keep an eye on but should the Brazilian leave with a 40-point gap to second place on Sunday, the 2025 title fight is over, and we’ll have a new Champion.

ANOTHER WET RACE IN STORE?

It could very well be three race weekends in a row that have been affected by a downpour on Sunday. After the rain of Silverstone and torrential downpours at Spa, forecasts in Budapest are pointing towards a wet morning on Sunday.

The rained-out Feature Race last weekend prevented the action from taking place but this weekend the weather looks better, with the chances of another wet Feature Race spicing up the title fight providing a mouth-watering prospect.

Wet weather is forecast for Sunday morning which could impact the Feature Race

At Silverstone, Campos Racing reigned supreme, sweeping the weekend with Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak in the Sprint and Mari Boya in the Feature Race rain.

Another repeat would tee up the title fight nicely heading into the final round, and Tsolov especially would like to repeat his teammate’s feat, while Boya could close the gap down nicely with another victory in the wet.

However, back in Round 1, Câmara proved he could handle the wet weather conditions with confidence, winning the opening Feature Race of the season in the rain of Melbourne.

Whatever happens with the weather, Sunday’s race will be appointment viewing as the Championship battle looks to go to the wire.

FRESH FACES

In every year but one since the inaugural FIA F3 campaign, the Budapest round has had a brand-new winner in the Championship on every visit to the Hungaroring.

Only in 2023 when Gabriele Minì and Zak O’Sullivan were the victors across that weekend have we not had somebody new take to the top step in either the Sprint or Feature Race.

After Noah Stromsted added his name to the winners’ list in 2025, will there be another fresh face on the rostrum this weekend? The odds and history appear to be in their favour.