Home favourite Wurz keen to fight at the front in Spielberg Qualifying

Charlie Wurz is delighted to be returning home for Round 6 of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 season, with the TRIDENT driver keen to deliver a strong result in Spielberg.

The Austrian has had a mixed first half of the campaign and currently sits 16th in the Standings with 15 points, which includes a best result of P6 in the Melbourne Feature and Monte Carlo Sprint Races.

Looking ahead to the Red Bull Ring action though, Wurz was in positive spirits.

PREVIEW: The second half of the season starts at Round 6 in Spielberg

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m happy to be back after a bit of a break. This track is maybe not the easiest for me, but with a good car and with the good feeling I have with the team I think we can do a good job.

“It's always tight so you have to put it together here, but that's part of the fun of motorsport. I'm really invested in this weekend and with overtaking opportunities for the races where we have been quite good, it will be an interesting weekend for sure.”

Talking about his preparations for Spielberg, Wurz revealed he had done countless laps in the simulator looking to be as ready for Qualifying as possible.

“We've been preparing for this track on the sim,” said Wurz. “I don't know how many thousands of laps we did, but I think I have it engrained in my brain exactly what to do.

“But seriously, it's a track like any other, it's just shorter with 10 corners. So it means the whole field is going to be closer, so you really have to put it together. One-tenth here is probably five positions so you need to be on it.

“The focus is always on Friday, as soon as you get the qualifying done, you can start to look at the races. Once you qualify at the front, everything gets easier, and that's the main focus.”

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But when asked about how he will approach the races, Wurz responded: “Once the races come, overtaking, fighting, it comes quite naturally to me. So I know I don't have to put too much attention into that because I know without preparing, I can do a good job.

“Of course, there are fine details you need to do and that's what we will do. We have already done a lot, but we will do more after qualifying. The only thing is the DRS trains. I was in one last year and then it becomes a bit tricky.

The tyres will go away and then it starts to open up in the second half of the race. This year you make the difference as a driver by managing the tyres and everything, so I think that's the focus.

Wurz’s qualifying form this year has been quite strong, having qualified sixth in Melbourne and third in Sakhir. However, he was down in P28 in Imola and P19 in Barcelona, although he started from seventh in Monte Carlo.

As the second half of the season gets underway, Wurz is not planning to change things too much, instead placing an emphasis on putting everything together when it counts.

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“It's still five rounds to go,” continued Wurz. “A lot can happen and I know if, without exaggerating, I just do the same thing I have been doing every other weekend, I have the pace.

“So I don't need to invent anything new, I just need to keep my head down, not get too annoyed about the past rounds and just focus on the rest.

“I still have five to go and starting those five rounds here in Red Bull Ring, is nice here at home. Nice, relaxed, with family, good food, so looking forward to it.”