What To Watch For: A few key storylines to keep an eye on Silverstone

1 July 2026

The European season is now firmly underway as the paddock heads from Spielberg to Silverstone for Round 5 of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 campaign.

There have been eight different winners through the first eight races, and with both championship fights being so close, these three days of running is one that you won’t want to miss.

So as we preview all the weekend’s action, here are a few storylines you may want to keep an eye on…

THE DRIVERS’ FIGHT

The Drivers’ Championship battle has delivered drama at every round, with each weekend bringing fresh twists and turns.

Ugo Ugochukwu has been the one constant. Since Round 1 in Melbourne, the Campos Racing driver has maintained his place at the top of the Standings.

Ugochukwu currently leads the way in the Drivers' Championship

But his closest challenger has changed several times, from Bruno del Pino to teammate Théophile Nael, and now after Spielberg it is Freddie Slater.

However there are several other drivers who will feel they are firmly in the conversation, like Monte Carlo Feature Race winner Brando Badoer and Noah Stromsted, who is fresh from his victory in Spielberg.

Hiyu Yamakoshi has also had an excellent few weeks and even took his first pole in F3 at the last round.

There are still other drivers on the grid who have impressed without always achieving the results they would have wanted.

So as we approach the second half of the season, and as the title battle takes shape, expect there to be more twist and turns, with Silverstone often a place where the unthinkable can happen.

ANOTHER NEW WINNER?

As previously mentioned, there have been eight different winners through the opening eight races of this season.

Inthraphuvasak is one of a number of drivers to achieve their first F3 win at Silverstone

Given Silverstone’s history do not be surprised if that trend continues and it is 10 from 10 after this weekend.

This has been the venue for many first-time winners in F3, with our visit in 2024 – when Arvid Lindblad won both races – the only time when we have had a repeat winner.

The likes of Liam Lawson, Logan Sargeant, Arthur Leclerc, Oliver Goethe, and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak all achieved their maiden Formula 3 win at Silverstone.

So for those drivers who have been desperately trying to achieve their first victories, this could be the weekend.

MORE SILVERSTONE MAGIC?

Formula 3 at Silverstone is magic as shown by the last three Feature Races. In 2025, mixed conditions meant that there were a combination of slicks and wet tyres at the start.

The top three, Nikola Tsolov, Ugo Ugochukwu and Rafael Câmara all chose the Hards, and fell down the order immediately, with rain hitting the track and eventually forcing the race to be called off.

Lindblad won the Silverstone Feature Race in 2024 which was in mixed conditions

Similarly in 2024, mixed conditions made for a spectacle that Lindblad won. But it was not simple, as the drivers had to manoeuvre between both a dry and a wet track throughout the race.

Being on the right tyre at the right time was critical, which Lindblad was, and he came from the back of the field on slicks in the final laps to claim his second victory of the weekend.

Rain once again caused mayhem in 2023, but most of the Feature Race actually ran in dry conditions. The weather changed late on and while most of the grid chose not to switch to the wet tyres, Tommy Smith and Van Amersfoort Racing took the gamble – and it nearly paid off.

The Australian went from last to P11 in just one lap, missing out on points by two-tenths while the rest of the field tiptoed around the track on their slicks.

Goethe held on for victory, ahead of Leonardo Fornaroli and Josep María Martí. But that final lap was not easy and it could have easily gone wrong for the trio.

Looking ahead to this year, rain is currently not forecasted, but it is Formula 3 at Silverstone, so anything can happen.