Van Amersfoort Racing banking on new faces to kickstart new era in Formula 3

29 January 2025

After a strong 2024 campaign in which they achieved several podiums and points finishes, Van Amersfoort Racing return in 2025 looking for more in Formula 3.

VAR are bringing an all-new lineup to the grid, their three new F3 cars set to be driven by rookies Ivan Domingues and Théophile Nael, and second year returnee Santiago Ramos.

So, what can expect from them this season?

Domingues may be new to Formula 3, but he is no stranger to VAR, having raced with them for the last two seasons.

They first linked up in the 2023 Italian F4 and Euro 4 categories, achieving one podium in the former, before taking part in four races of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.

In 2024, he continued with the Dutch outfit for a full campaign in FRECA, finishing 10th overall in the Drivers’ Standings, helped by his two podiums results.

Domingues is set to race with VAR for a third consecutive season in 2025

He also took part in the two post-season tests in Jerez and Barcelona with VAR, getting his first taste of driving a Formula 3 car across those four days, progressing well in each session.

The step up to F3 can be difficult for many rookies but what will help Domingues is that he is doing so in an environment that he is familiar with and in a team that knows him well.

That should help his adaptation to the Championship and in the way he can deliver feedback to the team about the new car. The Portuguese driver will hope this helps both him and VAR make a strong start to the year in Melbourne.

For 2023 Spanish F4 Champion Nael, this will be his first campaign racing with VAR but his acclimatisation to his new surroundings started at the post-season test.

The 17-year-old had enjoyed plenty of success in karting before making the step up to single seater racing in 2022.

He then produced a dominant title-winning campaign in Spanish F4 in 2023, achieving 14 podiums which included eight victories.

2023 Spanish F4 Champion Nael is set for his rookie Formula 3 campaign with VAR

Nael then competed in both the Formula Regional Middle East and European Championships in 2024, achieving four podiums across both categories, finishing 11th in the former and ninth in the latter.

The Frenchman has returned to the Formula Regional Middle East Championship once again this year and in two rounds already has two podiums and is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.

This should please both he and VAR as he will be coming into his rookie Formula 3 season having developed as a driver and also riding a good wave of momentum.

Nael will want to continue that at the pre-season test in Barcelona because if he can, history has shown he is capable of delivering strong results.

Both Domingues and Nael though will be able to rely on the experience of Santiago Ramos, who returns for a second campaign after making a good impression in his rookie season.

Racing for TRIDENT, the Mexican achieved one Pole Position in Imola and a podium in Monza alongside several other points finishes, ending the year on 44 points and 16th in the Championship.

Ramos achieved his maiden podium at the Monza Sprint Race last season

But there were plenty of unlucky moments too for Ramos, such as a collision with 2024 teammate Sami Meguetounif in the Barcelona Sprint Race while in the lead that cost him a potential victory.

He will want to be more consistent this year and avoid such collisions as he has proven that when he puts it all together, he has the pace to fight at the front.

His experience will also be invaluable to the team as they begin work on the new Formula 3 car, and his feedback could make a big difference for VAR to start the year.

The Dutch team and the trio will be hopeful of realising their potential as Domingues, Nael and Ramos all have several factors working in their favour.

VAR will be keen to climb up the F3 ranks having finished seventh last year and they will be confident that their 2025 lineup is the one to help them do so.