Standout F3 moments from Sakhir

FIA Formula 3 returns to action this weekend in Sakhir, Bahrain for Round 2 of the 2025 campaign.

A familiar venue by now, the Bahrain International Circuit has thrown up some truly memorable moments and standout performances since being added to the calendar.

Ahead of the racing action getting back underway, we’ve taken a look back at three truly special performances that have stood out in the past around the Sakhir venue.

Colapinto’s debut Pole

There are few ways of making a stronger statement at the first time of asking than taking Pole Position on your competitive debut. But that’s what Franco Colapinto achieved in both his and Van Amersfoort Racing’s first race weekend in FIA Formula 3.

New to the grid in 2022, VAR may have been unfancied entering the weekend, but the defied those expectations and then some.

The Argentinian driver made a promising start in Free Practice, finishing fifth in the opening session of the weekend. But the best was yet to come.

Into the final 10 minutes of the session and having been outside of the top 20, Colapinto made his move, as he went to the top of the times on a 1:46.249. Nobody could better his time by the chequered flag and he claimed Pole by 0.065s over Roman Stanek.

“It was quite a surprise I'm not going to lie to you,” he said in the press conference afterwards. “We were struggling a little bit in Practice and then we found the perfect balance for Qualifying. We did some quick last-minute changes, and they worked nicely and I'm really happy.”

Leclerc storms through to second

Having just missed out on reverse grid pole following a tricky Qualifying session that left him 13th on the grid, Arthur Leclerc’s weekend was shaping up to be a tough one.

The Monegasque driver quickly put that setback behind him though, with a great charge through the pack to finish fifth in the Sprint Race. But, he saved his best for last, with an even more impressive comeback effort on Sunday.

Once again going from P13 on the grid, the PREMA Racing driver was clinical as he cut his way through the pack once more, and after some early race Safety Car interruptions, cracked the top five.

His charge wasn’t over either and into the closing stages he moved up into third position with a move on Juan Manuel Correa. Polesitter Colapinto was the next victim, and second was soon Leclerc’s.

An unlikely fight for the win could well have occurred but unfortunately for the PREMA driver, the chequered flag came too soon, and he had to settle for second behind Martins. A valiant comeback effort, nonetheless, evoking memories of older brother Charles’ incredible 2017 effort in Formula 2.

Lindblad dominates on debut

Qualifying left him fourth on the grid for the Sprint Race, but Arvid Lindblad was in another league as he made a mighty first impression in FIA Formula 3.

The Briton may have lost out to Tim Tramnitz into the first corner, but another car to pass was little issue and he re-took the place soon afterwards.

He interestingly held back from the rear of Max Esterson in his Jenzer Motorsport car ahead, opting to save his tyres for later in the race while ART Grand Prix teammates Nikola Tsolov and Laurens van Hoepen pushed one another for the lead.

On Lap 9 of 19, Lindblad began his move to the front as he dived by Esterson into Turn 1 and slowly closed on the leading ART duo.

Lap 13 and he was past van Hoepen after an error into Turn 11 by the Dutch driver opened the door.

Lindblad cleared Tsolov on Lap 15 into the first corner, but the Bulgarian was able to re-pass the rookie at Turn 4, though his resistance was only extended by one lap as the PREMA Racing driver repeated his pass on the following tour.

In the final four laps, the Red Bull Junior Team member pulled over five seconds clear of the chasing pack to underline his impressive effort.