Nicola Lacorte claimed a hard-fought maiden victory in the FIA Formula 3 Feature Race at Monza, holding his nerve amid a chaotic race to become the 13th different winner of the season. The Italian crossed the line just ahead of Tuukka Taponen after a late restart.
The race started with drama as polesitter and championship leader Freddie Slater defended his position into the first chicane, but behind him, Lacorte was already on the move, battling for position with Kanato Le. The early laps saw several incidents, including a spin for Ugo Ugochukwu after contact with his Campos Racing teammate Theophile Nael, dropping him to the back of the field.
A safety car was deployed after a collision between Fionn McLaughlin and Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi, and when racing resumed, Slater's pace began to fade. Le swept past him, followed by Lacorte, who then engaged in a fierce battle with the ART Grand Prix cars. The six-car leading group was separated by just seconds, with positions changing constantly.
Lacorte made a decisive move on Le around the outside of the chicane on lap 10, taking the lead. From there, he managed his pace while Slater's race unravelled. A right-rear wheel issue forced Slater to retire, dealing a blow to his championship hopes. Another safety car period set up a tense finale, but Lacorte launched perfectly at the restart and held off Taponen to take the chequered flag.
This victory is a milestone for both Lacorte and his DAMS team, marking their first Feature Race win since joining F3 in 2025. It also shakes up the title fight as the season heads into its final rounds.
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