On Sunday, Rafael Camara sealed the Formula 3 title in a commanding lights-to-flag victory at the wet Hungaroring. With his lead in the championship now unassailable, Camara heads into the Monza round holding a 48-point advantage over closest rival Mari Boya in the drivers‘ standings. Camara aiming to emulate Charles Leclerc has been a key motivation throughout his rise in the junior formula categories.
The Brazilian’s success comes as no surprise given his four-year tenure with the Ferrari Driver Academy, which has supported his steady climb through the motorsport ranks. His consistency and speed in single-seaters have marked him out as a future star aligned with Ferrari’s development program.
Camara’s Consistent Progress Through Junior Ranks
Camara’s formula racing career highlights include finishing runner-up in the Italian F4 Championship in 2022 behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a highly regarded young talent. He then debuted in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, placing fifth in his first year while Antonelli took the title. Camara returned the following year to win the championship emphatically as a sophomore.
Despite this solid progression, Camara admitted he was surprised by his dominance in his rookie F3 season during a post-title Q&A.
Image of: Charles Leclerc
“Obviously no. I mean, it was a big surprise. I think after all the preparation we did, obviously you always want to win, you always go into a championship thinking that you can win the championship, thinking that you’re going to fight for what you can. But I was never expecting to start how we started in Australia.”
—Rafael Camara, F3 Drivers Champion
Memorable Start in Melbourne Sets Tone for Season
Camara’s debut weekend in Formula 3 at Melbourne had mixed fortunes: he retired early in the sprint race due to a three-car collision but bounced back with a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the feature race. This pattern of strong Sunday performances contrasted with more modest Saturday results defined much of his 2025 season.
While Camara’s average position on Saturdays was around 13th, he compensated with outstanding consistency in qualifying sessions, achieving five pole positions out of nine rounds and an average starting position of 2.8. His qualifying prowess places him alongside historical standouts such as Luca Ghiotto, who secured five poles in nine rounds back in 2015.
Mastering the Challenges of F3 Qualifying
Camara highlighted the unique challenges of Formula 3, where limited track time and unpredictable conditions make finding the limit quickly essential. He explained,
“The only thing that is a bit different in Formula 3 compared to the other categories is that you are very limited in [track] time,”
and further added,
“But understanding where the limit is and being fast straight away is a strong point on my side, as every time on the first runs we already had good pace – and when you start already with good pace, it is much easier to set up what the car needs to improve. I also feel as the driver, it’s just more simple for what you need to do each run, and I think that’s why quali has been so strong.”
—Rafael Camara, F3 Drivers Champion
This ability to adapt quickly on limited track time helped Camara secure front-row starts regularly, even if his sprint race grids were less favourable due to the top 12 qualifiers’ reverse grid rule, which often placed him mid-pack for Saturday races.
Dominance in Race Day Performance
Camara made the most of his strong qualifying form during Sunday races, amassing 138 points out of 226 possible on race days, more than any other driver. He dominated four feature races from pole position, winning in Australia, Bahrain, Spain, and Hungary. His season also had setbacks, including a retirement from ninth place in Monaco caused by a loose wheel, and a challenging 22nd place at Silverstone after a risky tyre gamble on a damp track.
Following in the Footsteps of Ferrari’s Rising Stars
Having proved his ability in Formula 3, the 20-year-old is now setting his sights on stepping up to Formula 2. Camara’s ambition is to follow in the footsteps of successful Ferrari Driver Academy graduates such as Charles Leclerc, who swiftly won back-to-back titles in GP3/F3 and F2 before advancing to Formula 1. Other notable drivers who have accomplished this feat include George Russell, Oscar Piastri, and Camara’s compatriot Gabriel Bortoleto.
Achieving immediate success in F2 as a rookie is a challenging path, but it remains the most direct route to Formula 1, especially for drivers supported by Ferrari’s academy system. Camara’s championship win and consistent performances in 2025 position him as a promising prospect to continue this tradition.
