The 2025 FIA Formula 3 pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provided teams and drivers with a crucial opportunity to fine-tune their setups, assess the new car’s performance and gain valuable knowledge ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
Key Takeaways from FIA F3 Pre-Season Testing in Barcelona
Across three days of mixed conditions, multiple contenders emerged and early hints of the competitive pecking order began to take shape.
Here are the major takeaways from testing.
Nikola Tsolov and Campos Racing Look Strong
Nikola Tsolov (Campos Racing) made a statement by dominating Day 2, setting the fastest times in both the morning (1:26.618) and afternoon (1:27.249) sessions.
The Bulgarian driver’s consistency and pace suggest that Campos has a competitive package heading into the new season. With strong teammates like Mari Boya also showing pace, Campos could be a serious contender in 2025.
Their ability to set strong times across different conditions indicates they have developed a car that works well in both qualifying and race trim.
Moreover, Tsolov’s pace was not just about raw speed; his consistency throughout the test demonstrated his ability to string together strong laps without major drop-offs.
If Campos Racing can carry this momentum into the season, they could emerge as one of the dominant forces in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Boya’s consistent presence in the top half of the timesheets further solidified Campos as a team to watch.
Callum Voisin’s Late Surge Puts Rodin in the Spotlight
Rodin Motorsport’s Callum Voisin emerged as one of the standout performers, topping both the opening morning (1:27.959) and the final session of testing with a commanding 1:39.031 in drying conditions.
His ability to adapt to different track conditions and extract strong single-lap performance puts him on the radar as a potential front-runner.
With Roman Bilinski and Louis Sharp also delivering competitive times, Rodin Motorsport appears to be in a solid position. Their testing pace suggests that the team could be a dark horse in the upcoming season, especially if they can translate their one-lap speed into consistent race performance.
Voisin’s final day surge, in particular, was proof of his ability to maximize performance at critical moments. While his raw pace is clear, Rodin Motorsport will need to ensure they have a strong race setup and strategy to capitalize on his qualifying speed.
His battle with Tsolov could be one of the defining rivalries of the 2025 season.
READ MORE: 2025 Formula 2 Grid: Teams & Drivers Changes
PREMA Racing and Trident remain competitive
Prema Racing and Trident, two of the most successful teams in FIA F3 history, once again demonstrated strong pace. Prema´s Noel León topped the first afternoon session (1:27.711), while Trident´s Rafael Câmara was quickest in wet conditions of Day 3´s morning session (1:42.570).
Both teams showed they remained at the sharp end of the field, even as the competition around them intensified. Historically, PREMA and Trident have been the teams to beat in FIA F3 and their presence at the top of the time sheets suggests they will continue to be strong contenders in 2025.
One of the key strengths of PREMA Racing has been its ability to extract race-winning performances from multiple drivers within their lineup. León’s performance demonstrated that he could be a strong title contender and his teammates were not far behind.
Trident, meanwhile, showed impressive pace in the wet conditions, which could prove crucial if weather plays a role in the opening rounds of the season.
Wet and dry conditions test Driver Adaptability
The Barcelona test featured a mix of wet and dry conditions, forcing teams to adapt their strategies accordingly. The final day in particular saw drivers dealing with a damp morning before pushing hard on a fully dry track in the afternoon.
This provided an excellent test of driver adaptability, with those who excelled in both scenarios – such as Voisin, Tsolov and Câmara – likely to be strong in variable weather races throughout the season.
Notably, the wet conditions exposed weaknesses in some team’s setups, while others thrived. Finding the right balance in changing conditions could prove decisive in championship battles.
Red Flags and Incidents Disrupt Running
Across the three days, multiple red flags interrupted the sessions. Incidents at Turn 5 were particularly frequent, with several drivers – such as Ho, Sharp, Lacorte and León – going off at that corner.
These discontinuations limited track time for some, making it harder for teams to complete their full testing programs.
Turn 5 became a focal point for off-track moments, possibly indicating a difficult braking zone or a setup challenge that teams will need to address before the season starts.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: IndyCar 101: Understanding Qualifying
The New 2025 Chassis Shows Positive Signs
Drivers and teams continued to gather data on the new 2025 F3 chassis, with initial feedback being largely positive.
“We’re making good progress with the 2025 car.” – Nikola Tsolov.
Tsolov emphasised that while there’s still work to do in optimizing setups the new design has strong potential. Understanding tyre behaviour and aero efficiency will be key as teams refine their cars before Round 1.
Discussing the differences between the previous and new generation of F3 cars, Tim Tramnitz expressed his admiration for the 2025 model. He noted that, alongside the introduction of larger 16-inch tyres, the handling felt promising right from the start.
“Honestly, the difference is significant. A lot of it seems to come from the tyres as well, as they provide substantial grip through the corners.
“Many expected the new car to be slower due to its increased weight and revised aerodynamics. However, in reality, we are even quicker, which is a great surprise and a positive development for us drivers.” – Tim Tramnitz.
The improved aerodynamics and mechanical grip of the new chassis appear to be beneficial and as teams unlock its full potential, lap times could continue to drop.
Looking Ahead to the Season Opener in Melbourne
With testing complete, all eyes now turn to the season opener at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, from March 14-16.
The testing times suggest a highly competitive grid, with multiple teams capable of fighting at the front. Campos Racing, Rodin Motorsport, PREMA Racing and Trident all showed flashes of speed, setting the stage for an exciting start to the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
With the lessons learned from Barcelona, teams will now shift focus to race simulations and refining strategies for the opening round.
With testing offering the first glimpse of the 2025 pecking order, Melbourne will serve as the first real test of who can convert early promise into results.
Will Tsolov and Campos Racing continue their dominance? Can Voisin’s late testing surge translate into race victories? How will Trident and Prema fare in race conditions?
The answer will soon be revealed when the lights go out for Round 1 of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
READ NEXT: Key 2025 F1 Storylines to Watch Out for in Pre-Season Testing
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Panoramic by PsnewZ
Recording Date: 01.09.2024
