Kicking off the new era Down Under: What to watch for in Melbourne

After a winter of waiting, the time for action is almost upon us as FIA Formula 3 in 2025 gets underway in Melbourne, Australia.

For the first time, the Championship kicks off in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Albert Park street circuit playing host to Round 1 of the upcoming season.

There’s also the small matter of a brand-new car for this year, which after pre-season testing, every driver is eager to see what it will be like in the races.

Here is what you’ll want to be keeping an eye on as the new season begins.

New Generation

2025 is the start of a new era for FIA Formula 3, as the new car gets its first taste of competitive action.

After an extensive testing programme last year behind-the-scenes, the ’25 car was unveiled at Monza last season, and the teams commenced their work last month with pre-season testing in Barcelona.

It was the first time that all 30 cars were on track together, and there was no time wasted in building up data banks ahead of the first race of the year, with over 2000 laps completed across the three days in total.

Created with sustainability, exciting racing and with the latest FIA safety standards at the forefront of the design philosophy, the new F3 car promises even more excitement as drivers go wheel to wheel.

2025 will also mark the first season in which the Aramco Advanced Sustainable Fuel used by the Championship will be 100% sustainable, an important step in the development of biofuels as F3 and its partners continue to innovate and push forward with important technologies.

With a revamped aerodynamic appearance, larger 16-inch Pirelli tyres, and a field of drivers who will be eager to make themselves known come lights out in Melbourne, there’s no telling what Round 1 and the wider season may hold.

Streetwise

The Albert Park street circuit is an ultra-fast test for all and will demand the utmost respect and forward-thinking from drivers and teams alike.

Having visited Melbourne twice before, the teams will know what to expect and the potential pitfalls that could befall a driver across the race weekend. But the rookies will be learning on the job with a testing first round to deal with.

Those drivers who are returning for another year of F3 have the experience factor in their favour, and that could prove the difference maker come Qualifying and both race days.

However, that didn’t prevent rookie Gabriel Bortoleto becoming the first F3 Feature Race winner Down Under, nor did it stop Martinius Stenshorne winning the Sprint last season.

What each driver will have to contend with though is the street circuit factor, with Red Flag stoppages in Qualifying and Safety Cars in the races a potential spanner in the works that could change the complexion of a session.

Timing Qualifying runs could prove the difference maker to ensure a good starting position, though we have seen the DRS into Turns 10 and 11 to be very powerful and effective for creating overtaking opportunities.

Getting a good run out of the last major corner at T6 could be the difference maker then in maintaining position over the driver behind. It’s all about making the most of the opportunities as they present themselves, especially around a track like Albert Park.

Setting the tone

17 rookies join 13 returning drivers on the grid in Melbourne and it’s shaping up to be an intriguing year beyond the machinery.

Only Campos Racing have opted for a line-up comprised solely of drivers with one or more years of F3 experience, with every other outfit fielding at least one rookie.

With the introduction of a new car, the question remains, will the drivers with F3 experience of the previous generation have a headstart or, do the new drivers have an advantage of not having to unlearn anything relating to the old car to get the best out of the new one?

Everyone will be aiming to lay down a marker and make a statement of intent for the year, and we may well see the first patterns emerge, and the competitive order take shape.

The tyres in particular will be an important factor, with the larger 16-inch specification for 2025 closer to the F2-style, but will that impact how they need to be managed?

It will be interesting to see who hits the ground running.