Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Theophile Nael added to Campos Racing’s victory tally in 2026 as he stormed to FIA Formula 3 sprint race victory at the Hungaroring.
Meanwhile, his teammate Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater drew level on points at the top of the championship standings.
Polesitter Kanato Le struggled at lights out as the ART driver came under pressure from his teammate Maciej Gladysz, DAMS’ Gerrard Xie and Nael.
Heading into turn 1, Le defended from Nael while behind Xie and Gladysz made contact with Hitech’s Jin Nakamura, the Hitech driver sent over the back of Xie with Glaysz caught up in the chaos.
By lap six the safety car was withdrawn and Le looked to move clear of Nael behind. All eyes were on his teammate Ugochukwu behind who looked to force his way past Nicola Lacorte for sixth.
The American found himself forced onto the grass heading into turn 2 before pausing his attack until the following lap when he dived down the inside of turn 1 and moved into sixth.
It wasn’t long before Ugochukwu battled past Brando Badoer and began to reign in MP Motorsport’s Mattia Colnaghi for fourth.
The attention shifted to his teammate Nael though who reignited his charge for the race lead. At the start of lap 9, the Frenchman dived to the inside of turn 1 to take the lead.
Ugochukwu’s charge was briefly halted after the Campos driver was slapped with a five-second penalty having left the track and gained an advantage at the start of the race.
He couldn’t respond to his penalty and began to fall back into the clutches of Badoer in sixth. The Italian looked to challenge on the outside of turn 1, Ugochukwu defending the inside, unaware of Lacorte who had dived up the inside.
The pair made contact with Lacorte forced onto the grass in an evasive move, dropping him down behind Tuukka Taponen and into the clutches of Slater.
Ugochukwu’s fall down the order continued, losing out to Lacorte and Taponen before Prema’s James Wharton moved past followed by AIX’s Fernando Barichello, the Brazilian on his way to his best FIA F3 finish.
Nael ahead had extended his lead to over 2.5 seconds and led home Le with Ernesto Rivera completing the podium after a lonely race.
Colnaghi led home Badoer who rounded out the top five having had to fend off a late charge from Taponen.