Prema Racing entered the championship as the reigning Teams' Champions, having secured their title at the final race of the 2022 season in Monza. They also secured the Teams' Championship title in 2023.
Gabriel Bortoleto, driving for Trident, claimed the Drivers' Championship after qualifying at the final round at Monza.
Entries
The following teams and drivers were under contract to compete in the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship.[2] As the championship was a spec series, all teams competed with an identical Dallara F3 2019 chassis with a 3.4 L (207 cu in) naturally-aspirated V6 engine developed by Mecachrome.[1][3][4] All teams competed with tyres supplied by Pirelli.
German Formula 4 team PHM Racing took over the entry and assets of Charouz Racing System at the end of the 2022 season, and ran in cooperation with the Czech squad under the PHM Racing by Charouz moniker.[5]
Carlin competed under new ownership in 2023. The New Zealand-based car manufacturer Rodin Cars became majority shareholder of the team. With that, the team's name changed to Rodin Carlin.[6]
Hitech partnered with hardware company Pulse-Eight during the off-season, changing the official name of the team to Hitech Pulse-Eight.[7]
MP Motorsport's three drivers from last season were all replaced. Kush Maini joined Campos Racing in Formula 2, with Mari Boya promoted from MP's Formula Regional European Championship team to replace him after the Spaniard came tenth in 2022.[19][20]Jonny Edgar took over Alexander Smolyar's seat, moving over from Trident, with whom he came 12th in his second F3 season in 2022.[12] The lineup was completed by Williams Academy driver Franco Colapinto, who came ninth in 2022 with Van Amersfoort Racing and swapped teams with Caio Collet.[21][22]
Van Amersfoort Racing signed Caio Collet, 8th in 2022 with MP Motorsport, to replace Franco Colapinto.[22]Reece Ushijima was superseded by Tommy Smith, who had been driving in regional F3-level series since 2019, most recently GB3 in 2022, where he took one win on the way to 19th with Douglas Motorsport.[27]
New entrant PHM Racing by Charouz hired Sophia Flörsch for their first season in the championship, a move partially funded by FIA Formula 3 promoter Formula Motorsport.[39][40] Flörsch previously drove for Campos Racing in 2020 and had competed in endurance and sportscar racing since then. She replaced Francesco Pizzi, who left FIA F3 to join TJ Speed in USF Pro 2000.[41] Their second seat, which was shared by a handful of drivers in 2022, was filled by Roberto Faria, who competed in GB3 for the last three years, coming fifth in the latter two.[42] The final seat was taken by Piotr Wiśnicki, who graduated to FIA F3 after a season in the Formula Regional European Championship, to replace László Tóth.[43]
PHM Racing by Charouz hired GB3 driver Michael Shin for the remainder of the season prior to the seventh round at the Hungaroring, taking the seat previously occupied by Wiśnicki and Cresswell.[47][48][49]
Rodin Carlin hired Euroformula Open driver Francesco Simonazzi for the remainder of the season prior to the penultimate round at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, taking the seat previously occupied by Yeany and Esterson.[50]
Joshua Dufek, whose main campaign in 2023 was the Formula Regional European Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing, replaced Hugh Barter at Campos Racing for the final round at Monza.[51]
Formula 3 ran with 55% sustainable fuel in 2023, supplied by Aramco, who replaced Elf Aquitaine as an official fuel partner and supplier.[56] In a bid to decrease the championships' carbon footprint, an incremental gain in usage is planned until the 2027 season, where usage of 100% sustainable fuel is planned.[57]
On the opening lap of the feature race, pole-sitter Minì lost positions to Bortoleto and Grégoire Saucy. He reclaimed second place from Saucy shortly before the safety car was deployed to recover Tommy Smith's car, which had stalled after contact with Mari Boya. When the race restarted, Minì was issued a five-second time penalty for his car being outside the lines at the race start.[61] He soon passed Bortoleto for the lead, and by the penultimate lap was far enough ahead of fourth-placed Dino Beganovic to stay on the podium despite his penalty, however a final-lap safety car to recover Alex García's retired Jenzer bunched the cars together and dropped Minì to eighth at the finish line. Bortoleto was awarded the victory, followed by Oliver Goethe and Beganovic, all claiming their first podiums in the category.[62] At the end of Round 1, Bortoleto led the Drivers' Championship by three points over Goethe.[63]
Championship leader Bortoleto qualified fastest at the Albert Park Circuit and Sebastián Montoya started the sprint race on pole position.[64] The safety car was deployed on the opening lap when second-placed starter Goethe received a puncture and got stuck in the gravel. Luke Browning challenged Montoya for the lead at the restart but lost positions after being launched over a kerb; Montoya was then passed by Franco Colapinto. Two more safety car periods followed to recover the crashed cars of Ido Cohen and Tommy Smith in separate incidents. One more lap of racing took place in which Montoya dropped to third place behind Zak O'Sullivan, however the race ended under a fourth safety car period when Alex García stopped in the gravel. Colapinto crossed the line first, however all three MP Motorsport cars were later disqualified for breaches of the technical regulations, handing O'Sullivan his first victory in FIA Formula 3.[65][66]
Pole-sitter Bortoleto held the lead on the first lap of the feature race ahead of Grégoire Saucy and Gabriele Minì. Colapinto and Mari Boya were involved in separate accidents on lap two and the safety car was deployed, under which Kaylen Frederick also crashed. A second safety car period began on lap twelve to recover Ido Cohen's car after a collision with Rafael Villagómez; the top three maintained their positions through both restarts and to the end of the race, with Bortoleto taking a second consecutive feature race victory and Minì his first FIA Formula 3 podium.[67] Pepe Martí, who started 30th, came through the field to finish seventh.[68] Bortoleto's victory extended his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 20 points over Saucy.
Monaco became Round 3 after flooding in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy forced the cancellation of the scheduled round at the Imola Circuit.[69] Gabriele Minì took his second feature race pole position in qualifying at the Circuit de Monaco.[70] Pepe Martí started the sprint race on reverse-grid pole. The safety car was deployed on the first lap of the sprint race when Jonny Edgar hit the wall at turn one and other cars received punctures. Martí held his lead at the restart and took his second victory of the year, followed by Leonardo Fornaroli with his first FIA Formula 3 podium. Taylor Barnard had started third but dropped to fifth by the end; Grégoire Saucy completed the podium.[71]
Minì, Beganovic and Paul Aron held their top three positions through the start of the feature race and at the safety car restart after a crash by Ido Cohen. A close battle for fifth place between Sebastián Montoya and Caio Collet ended in contact and dropped both drivers to the back. Minì, Beganovic and Aron made up the podium, with Minì claiming his first win in the category, moving him to second place in the Drivers' Championship. Points leader Bortoleto was classified fifth in the feature race and now held a 17-point lead in the standings.[72]
Pepe Martí set the fastest time in qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Zak O'Sullivan started the sprint race from pole position.[73] O'Sullivan led for the entire race distance despite challenges from Luke Browning and two safety car restarts, one for a collision involving Ido Cohen and Rafael Villagómez and the second after separate incidents in which Christian Mansell and Dino Beganovic were beached in the gravel.[74] O'Sullivan's win was his second of the season.[75]
On the opening lap of the feature race, pole-sitter Martí held off attacks from second-placed Taylor Barnard, and a collision between Browning and Leonardo Fornaroli resulted in Browning's retirement. Martí led for the rest of the race to claim his third victory of the year. His win lifted him to second place in the Drivers' Championship, 24 points adrift of championship leader Bortoleto, who finished fourth in both races.[76]
Grégoire Saucy claimed feature race pole at the Red Bull Ring and Martí started first in the sprint race, which took place in wet conditions.[77] Martí led the majority of the sprint race whilst Paul Aron, who had started eighth, made his way up the order to second place. Racing was paused during a safety car period to recover the collided cars of Rafael Villagómez and Oliver Gray, and Aron began to pressure Martí for the lead when racing resumed.[78] Aron took first place with three laps remaining to claim his first victory in the series, whilst Martí dropped to sixth place in the closing laps.[79]
Contact between teammates Gabriele Minì and Luke Browning brought out the safety car on the first lap of the feature race. Soon after racing resumed, Dino Beganovic overtook pole-sitter Saucy for first place. Beganovic, Saucy, Aron and championship leader Bortoleto fought closely for the lead in the following laps, but contact between Saucy and Aron gave both drivers damage and dropped them down the order. Beganovic complained of tyre wear and began to fall back; the lead was taken by Bortoleto and then O'Sullivan, who had started sixth, soon after. The final podium position was contested by Franco Colapinto, Sebastián Montoya and Caio Collet in a close final-lap battle. Contact between the former two demoted Montoya out of contention and allowed Collet through to third place.[80] O'Sullivan crossed the finish line to achieve his third win of the year, followed by Bortoleto, whose championship advantage now stood at 36 points over Martí.[81]
Leonardo Fornaroli set the fastest qualifying time at Silverstone Circuit and Sebastián Montoya started the sprint race from first place.[82] Franco Colapinto, who started fourth, improved to second place on the opening lap but dropped behind Taylor Barnard shortly after. Rain began to fall on lap 8 of 18 and the safety car was deployed due to the conditions; some drivers opted to switch to wet-weather tyres but the top three stayed out on slicks. As racing resumed, Barnard made contact with Montoya, allowing Colapinto to pass both of them for the lead.[83] The wet tyre runners had an early advantage but dropped back in the closing laps as the track dried. Colapinto claimed his first win of the year and Christian Mansell his first FIA Formula 3 podium.[84]
Fornaroli built a lead on the first lap of the feature race before racing was paused to recover the car of Luke Browning after a collision with Hugh Barter. Oliver Goethe, who started second, passed Fornaroli for the lead with seven laps remaining. Rain started to fall shortly after and a crash involving Roberto Faria and Tommy Smith prompted a second safety car. Smith was the only driver to switch to wet tyres, and rose from the back of the field to 11th place in the two remaining racing laps, but was later demoted with a time penalty. The order of the top three remained unchanged, and Goethe took his first win in the category. At the end of the round, Bortoleto's lead in the championship remained at 36 points ahead of Martí.[85]
Feature race pole position at the Hungaroring was claimed by Zak O'Sullivan, his first of the season.[86]Gabriele Minì qualified 12th to start the sprint race on pole position. Minì was overtaken by Nikita Bedrin at the first corner, but later reclaimed the lead on lap eight. The top two built a gap to Bortoleto in third, but their advantage was nullified in the closing laps when the safety car was deployed to recover Sebastián Montoya's broken-down car. Bortoleto passed Bedrin for second place at the final corner of the last lap. Minì took his second win of the season and Bedrin claimed Jenzer Motorsport's first podium of the year.[87]
The feature race was shortened due to concerns over excessive tyre wear.[88] O'Sullivan led the entire race distance and set the fastest lap on his way to his fourth victory of the season. He was followed by teammate Dino Beganovic and fellow Williams junior Franco Colapinto. O'Sullivan's victory promoted him to second place in the standings, one point ahead of Pepe Martí and 43 points behind championship leader Bortoleto.[89]
Martí took pole position at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps whilst Bortoleto qualified 15th.[90] Hugh Barter started first in the sprint race, but dropped positions on the opening lap. The lead passed to Taylor Barnard who was soon overtaken by Caio Collet, who had started fourth. The 12-lap race was interrupted by three safety car periods; firstly when Rafael Villagómez collided with Sebastián Montoya, secondly when Martí hit the car of Ido Cohen whilst rejoining the track, and thirdly when Bortoleto came to a halt on the Kemmel straight. The race ended behind the safety car. Collet's victory was his first of the season.[91]
The feature race began in damp conditions and the drivers were split on tyre choice, most starting on slicks and some on wets. The wet tyre runners had an immediate advantage and Paul Aron, who started 11th, was in the lead before the end of the first lap. Oliver Goethe crashed on lap 5 of 15 and brought out the safety car, prompting some of the wet tyre runners, including Aron, to switch to slick tyres. The lead passed to Barnard as racing resumed. Aron had emerged from the pits ahead of the original slick runners, but they were unable to catch up to the wet tyre runners before the end of the race. Barnard was challenged by Christian Mansell for the lead in the closing laps, but Barnard held the position to claim his first victory in the series. Bortoleto's championship lead now stood at 38 points ahead of Aron with 39 points possible in the final round.[92]
Oliver Goethe set the fastest qualifying time at Monza Circuit prior to crashing and causing a red flag, securing his pole position.[93] As neither of Bortoleto's remaining championship rivals, Aron and Martí, claimed the two points on offer for pole position, Bortoleto secured the title after qualifying and became Trident's first FIA Formula 3 champion.[94] Franco Colapinto started on sprint race pole after five drivers were disqualified from the results due to parc fermé regulation breaches.[95] Mari Boya, who started second, passed Colapinto for the lead off the start line. Contact between Aron and Caio Collet gave Aron a puncture, which caused a first-corner collision that eliminated Aron, Martí and Jonny Edgar from the race. On lap 10, Colapinto regained the lead and third-placed Grégoire Saucy received a puncture after contact with Zak O'Sullivan, promoting Bortoleto to the podium places. The lead was traded between Colapinto and Boya over the next few laps, until Colapinto ultimately built a gap and Boya was passed by Bortoleto for second place. Colapinto's win was his second of the season and Boya claimed his first podium in the series.[96] Goethe, Luke Browning and Gabriele Minì finished in the points positions despite all starting outside the top 20, but fifth-placed Browning was later disqualified for a technical infringement.[97]
A throttle issue forced feature race pole-sitter Goethe out of the race on the formation lap, allowing Caio Collet to start from the front. The race was interrupted by four safety car periods as Grégoire Saucy, Sebastián Montoya, and championship runner-up contenders Colapinto and Martí were all forced into the gravel in separate incidents. Jonny Edgar gained second place from Aron on the opening lap and later passed Collet for the lead on lap six. The two drivers swapped the lead over the next few laps before Collet ultimately fell behind Zak O'Sullivan and Taylor Barnard to finish fourth. Edgar's race win was his first podium finish in three years of FIA Formula 3. O'Sullivan's podium lifted him to second place in the Drivers' Championship. Champion Bortoleto finished fifth and claimed the fastest lap, extending his lead to 45 points. Despite Trident driver Bortoleto's championship victory, Prema Racing clinched the Teams' Championship at the final race.[98]
Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers in both races. The pole-sitter in the feature race also received two points, and one point was given to the driver who set the fastest lap in both the feature and sprint races, provided that driver finished inside the top ten. If the driver who set the fastest lap was classified outside the top ten, the point was given to the driver who set the fastest lap of those inside the top ten. No extra points where awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race as the grid for it was set by reversing the top twelve qualifiers.
Sprint race points
Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers. A bonus point was awarded to the driver who set the fastest lap and finished in the top ten.[100]
Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers. Bonus points were awarded to the pole-sitter and to the driver who set the fastest lap and finished in the top ten.
† – Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Rows are not related to the drivers: within each team, individual race standings are sorted purely based on the final classification in the race (not by total points scored in the event, which includes points awarded for fastest lap and pole position).
Notes
^Mansell is an Australian driver who competed under a British licence in rounds 1–6 and an Australian licence from round 7 onwards.
^Bedrin is a Russian driver who competed under an Italian licence as Russian national emblems were banned by the FIA due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
^ abThe non-championship round in Macau featured a different race weekend format, holding a "Qualifying race" on Saturday, and a "Main race" on Sunday.
^Gabriele Minì finished first on track, but was handed a 5-second time penalty for a starting procedure infringement. Bortoleto inherited the win.[99]
^Franco Colapinto set the fastest lap, but was later disqualified from the race, and with that had all his lap times deleted, for a technical non-conformity. Luke Browning therefore set the fastest lap of the race but did not finish in the top ten, so was ineligible to score the point for it. Christian Mansell scored the point for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top ten.
^Franco Colapinto originally won the race, but was later disqualified from the race for a technical non-conformity. Zak O'Sullivan inherited the win.
^Hugh Barter set the fastest lap of the race but did not finish in the top ten, so was ineligible to score the point for it. Sebastián Montoya scored the point for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top ten.
^Paul Aron set the fastest lap of the race but did not finish in the top ten, so was ineligible to score the point for it. Leonardo Fornaroli scored the point for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top ten.
^Zak O'Sullivan set the fastest lap of the race but did not finish in the top ten, so was ineligible to score the point for it. Pepe Martí scored the point for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top ten.
^Grégoire Saucy set the fastest lap of the race but did not finish in the top ten, so was ineligible to score the point for it. Pepe Martí scored the point for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top ten.
References
^ ab"The Car". fiaformula3.com. Formula Motorsport Limited. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.