Interview
Théophile Nael: ‘I’m driving at the top of my game and with raw speed’
Three times in 2026 rivals have tried to dethrone Théophile Nael on a Friday and three times the Frenchman has emphatically shown his speed.
A clean sweep of Pole Positions so far this year in FIA Formula 3 has formed the foundations to a title charge and in Barcelona, a maiden victory in the Championship.
The Frenchman currently sits second in the Drivers’ Championship, six points adrift of Campos Racing teammate Ugo Ugochukwu. Ahead of Round 4, he says that the momentum is building, and he’s working hard to keep it rolling into Spielberg.
“We have had a good start to the season,” Nael said analysing his year so far. “I got a penalty in the Feature Race in Melbourne, so I had no points leading into Monaco, or just two points with the Pole.
“But overall, it was quite a good weekend in Melbourne and then coming into Monaco, it was a super weekend. The pace in the races was really good.
“Getting my first win in F3 is something I’ve worked towards for a long time. I’m really happy, but also very grateful to the team for all the hard work they’ve put in. It’s an important milestone, but there’s still a long season ahead.”
His speed over a single lap has been the stand-out strength so far in 2026, but his Barcelona victory was a great demonstration of race and tyre management, leading from the front.
Despite Hiyu Yamakoshi chasing him with DRS, Nael kept his cool and delivered for Campos at the team’s home event for win number one of what he hopes will become many.
The Campos driver says that his performance showed that he has more in his arsenal than a single flying lap, and that experience is beginning to tell, especially as the races come along more frequently.
“I'm feeling super confident to be honest. I think the raw pace is quite good, I'm feeling good with the car, so if I can keep fighting for the top five in quali, I think that's the target.
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“After the first Pole in Melbourne, maybe people can say that it was lucky or whatever, and then Monaco showed that the pace is there, it's about the confidence, which is there as well. In Melbourne, I was struggling a bit in the first race with the tyre management.
“But in Monaco, I worked on that and it was much better. I'm super happy to be in a competitive car. At the moment, every weekend that I drive, we are up in the points.
“So, I think that helps me as well to be confident and to be smart. I'm really thankful to the team. It being my second year in F3 probably does make a difference more, but mainly in the second part of the season, that's what I'm expecting.”
Overall, Nael believes that he is driving at his best, something that began last year following the end of his rookie campaign in F3.
Victory around Macau gave the French driver all the confidence heading into this year’s season, and he’s run with it and then some in the early rounds.
Nael says that his performances have just been a demonstration of a driver full of confidence and delivering his best when it counts.
“I'm able to deliver quite a lot. I have to say that from my point of view, that's a strong point. But I'm just going to do my thing, keep driving like I have been since Macau, to be honest, because since I won Macau, I've been there every time.
“I don't put pressure on myself, for sure. Freddie and Ugo, they are two really, really good drivers. I expect to be fighting with him the whole season.
“But the good thing is that Ugo is my teammate, so I can learn with him. I'm still fighting, I'm still chasing my dream, and I don't rush, to be honest, because the most important thing is to take maximum points every weekend.”