SPRINT RACE: Nael in full control for third win of 2026

Théophile Nael earned the first ever race win around the Madring, taking the lead on the opening lap and controlling things from the front.

It was the Campos Racing driver's third win of the season, as PREMA Racing's James Wharton and Alex Powell completed the podium on a strong day for the Italian team.

AS IT HAPPENED

Wharton got a decent start from pole position, but it was Nael with the best launch, and he claimed the lead into Turn 1.

The Australian went wheel-to-wheel with the Frenchman into Turn 5 but went deep and had to skip across the chicane. The PREMA driver ceded the position later in the lap and was able to slot back into second ahead of teammate Powell.

The title contenders didn't make progress on the opening lap, with Ugo Ugochukwu retaining P9 while Freddie Slater dropped one position to 18th in the TRIDENT.

By Lap 5, Nael had extended his lead over the chasing PREMAs to over a second, putting him out of DRS range to the tune of 1.3s.

Alessandro Giusti had been running fourth but was told over team radio to cede the position to Bruno Del Pino. The Frenchman obliged out of Turn 17, dropping back to fifth and keeping Ernesto Rivera in his mirrors.

Having dropped out of DRS range to Del Pino, Giusti was coming under pressure from Rivera and the Mexican was told to attack by the Campos team over the radio on Lap 9.

Overtaking was proving tough, but Taito Kato showed it was possible, rounding Tuukka Taponen with DRS into Turn 5 to take the final points place in 10th.

Seventh on the road Enzo Deligny was then handed a 10-second time penalty on Lap 13 for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in an earlier defence of P7 from Jin Nakamura.

At the front though, nobody could catch Nael, who took fastest lap as well as race victory in a dominant display around the Madring.

PREMA Racing's Wharton and Powell rounded out the podium, the latter earning his maiden rostrum visit on his second weekend in F3.

Del Pino held off Giusti and Rivera for fourth. Deligny's penalty dropped him to 15th, promoting Nakamura, Ugochukwu, Kato and Taponen up once position each in the points.

KEY QUOTE - Théophile Nael, Campos Racing

"First victory of the weekend is for me. Super happy to take the first win around the Madring and another podium. The car was mega! I managed to have a really good start and then managed the tyres towards the end and also had the best lap of the race as well, so very happy."

THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Freddie Slater remains at the top of the Drivers' Championship on 141 points, but Ugo Ugochukwu takes a potentially vital two points out of his lead in P2, going onto 129. Théophile Nael's victory lifts him up to third ahead of Campos teammate Ernesto Rivera, 86 points to 81. Taito Kato remains fifth in the Standings on 73.

Campos Racing closes in on their second-consecutive Teams' title, extending their lead and going onto 296 points. TRIDENT is second on 213, with Van Amersfoort Racing taking third with 162. ART Grand Prix is now fourth on 157 points, with MP Motorsport fifth on 138.

UP NEXT

The FIA Formula 3 drivers are back in action later on Saturday with the first of two Feature Races this weekend. Taito Kato goes from Pole Position, while Ugo Ugochukwu will be aiming to take over the lead of the Drivers' Championship from P4 on the grid.