Rafael Camara claimed the 2025 Formula 3 championship in commanding style on Sunday, delivering a lights-to-flag triumph at the wet Hungaroring circuit. The Brazilian driver’s points lead is now unchallengeable ahead of the upcoming Monza round, holding a substantial 48-point margin over second-place Mari Boya in the driver standings.

As a four-year member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Camara’s steady rise through the junior racing categories has been supported by Ferrari’s development program, placing him firmly on the Charles Leclerc Ferrari path toward potential Formula 1 success.

Consistent Progression and Early Career Highlights

Camara’s single-seater career has been marked by steady progress and notable achievements. In 2022, he finished runner-up in the fiercely contested Italian F4 Championship behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rising star in motorsport. The following years saw Camara advance to the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, finishing fifth in his debut year and then capturing the title decisively in his sophomore season.

Asked whether he expected such strong performance as a rookie in Formula 3, Camara responded honestly:

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

Season Overview: From Early Setbacks to Dominance

Camara’s opening round in Melbourne encapsulated his 2025 season. After retiring from a sprint race collision, he bounced back to take a commanding feature race win from pole position. This pattern of recovering from setbacks and maximizing performance became a hallmark of his campaign.

Although Camara ranked joint-13th in sprint race results—with an average starting position in sprint races around 10.2 due to the reversed top-12 grid format—his qualifying prowess was exceptional. Throughout nine rounds, he secured five poles and maintained an average qualifying position of just 2.8, a feat only matched once before by Luca Ghiotto in the 2015 GP3 season.

Mastering the Challenge of Limited Track Time in Formula 3

Formula 3’s unique structure, with limited track time, sets it apart from other categories. Camara emphasized this challenge, explaining:

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 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

This ability to quickly find the limit proved invaluable, especially considering the weekend’s free practice and qualifying sessions are brief and often disrupted by varying track conditions and tyre compounds.

Strong Sunday Performances Cement Championship Lead

Camara’s trademark was converting strong qualifying and race pace into victories during main events. He amassed 138 points on Sunday races alone out of a possible 226, outperforming Mari Boya (83 points) and Tim Tramnitz (67 points). His four feature race wins came from pole positions in Australia, Bahrain, Spain, and Hungary. Despite a few setbacks, including a retirement with a loose wheel in Monaco and a challenge with tyre choice at Silverstone, Camara’s consistency and speed dominated the season.

Next Steps Along the Ferrari Development Ladder

With the Formula 3 title secured, Camara now aims to progress confidently into the Formula 2 championship for the 2026 season. This step will test his talent further but also positions him among a prestigious group of drivers including Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, and Gabriel Bortoleto—all of whom advanced with back-to-back GP3/F3 and F2 rookie titles before graduating to Formula 1.

Camara’s journey aligns closely with the well-trodden Charles Leclerc Ferrari path, reflecting the Ferrari Driver Academy’s commitment to nurturing exceptional young talent through the ranks. His achievements underscore how critical development programs are in shaping future Formula 1 stars and suggest that F1 could soon welcome another Brazilian contender following this established trajectory.