What to Watch For: The big talking points heading into Spa-Francorchamps

We are back in action this weekend for the first leg of another double header. Spa-Francorchamps hosts Round 6 of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season, and there's plenty to talk about ahead of the action.

From the title fight now in a crucial phase and rookie drivers finding their feet, here's a few items you'll want to keep close eye on this weekend.

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• How to watch Round 6 at Spa-Francorchamps: TV, Session Times and more

WHO CAN STOP UGO?

Fresh from his record-breaking Sprint Race victory at Silverstone (achieving the largest winning margin in F3 Sprint Race history), the Campos Racing driver is riding a wave of momentum that will take some stopping.

He is on a run of three consecutive podium finishes, including that Sprint win, and has an 18-point advantage over closest challenger Freddie Slater.

Slater for his part has been one of the other stand-out drivers so far in 2026 but is still chasing that first victory in FIA F3 heading into this weekend.

You wouldn't bet against the TRIDENT driver getting it done. The Italian outfit has taken six wins at the Belgian circuit, with four of those coming in the Feature Race.

The Briton has failed to finish on the podium on a Sunday just once all season, with a P8 finish in Barcelona the only gap in his 2026 resume.

A further 26 points back in the Standings is Ugochukwu's teammate Théophile Nael, who started the year in unstoppable form in Qualifying, but has since hit a fair few hurdles.

The Frenchman was back on the podium at Silverstone, finishing third in the Sprint Race. But, his recent form has not been as consistent as he'd like, with that P3 result his sole scoring finish in the previous four races.

Slater's TRIDENT teammate Noah Stromsted is fourth in the Standings but sits 90-points behind leader Ugochukwu. The Dane will need to mount a serious comeback to close that deficit down, but as mentioned above, TRIDENT knows how to go quickly at Spa.

With four rounds and nine races left, we are well into the second half of the season and any error, missed opportunity or incident will be felt that much more with time running out.

WEATHER REPORT

After the baking hot weather of the past couple of races, the threat of rain returns for Spa-Francorchamps where it never seems to be far away.

Friday and Saturday running is currently most likely to be affected by some precipitation, while Sunday should remain dry.

Showers falling around the Ardennes can impact some parts of the circuit but not others, such is the size of the seven-kilometre circuit layout.

That makes things even trickier for teams and drivers should the rain arrive. Will it rain enough to warrant wet tyres? Or do you stay on the slicks and brave it out in order to avoid a costly pitstop and time loss if the circuit is predominantly dry?

Whatever the weather brings, the racing action should be incredible as it always seems to be in FIA F3 around the famous venue.

POINTS TO PROVE

Behind the Championship hopefuls, there are plenty of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend.

Firstly, our newest F3 winner Maciej Gladysz will be aiming to roll that momentum into Spa after claiming his maiden victory in the Championship last time out at Silverstone.

The ART Grand Prix driver was promoted to the top step following post-race penalties but will want to achieve a visit to the top step once again before the season is out.

Teammates Taito Kato and Kanato Le have shown flashes of what they're capable of, and both will be targeting that first F3 win in the coming races.

Bruno del Pino was the driver who impressed with early-season consistency, but the Spaniard's run of scoring results is a distant memory now.

He and Van Amersfoort Racing clearly have potential to fight at the front, and he will be aiming to restore himself back into the top 10 in Qualifying to resume that run.

Hiyu Yamakoshi missed out on points in the Silverstone Sprint Race, but has otherwise scored in a run going back to the Monte Carlo Feature Race.

And Rodin Motorsport duo Pedro Clerot and Brando Badoer are both in the top 10 and enjoying the team's step forward in 2026. With two podiums apiece, they'll be focused on adding to that tally at a venue the team has been victorious around in the past.