Pedro Clerot secured his maiden Formula 3 victory after surviving a chaotic first Feature Race of the season in Madrid, Spain. The Brazilian driver not only showed speed but also smart racecraft in a session filled with incidents. Taito Kato and Tuukka Taponen completed the podium in second and third.
From the start, Clerot displayed high intensity. He made the most of his starting position and quickly took control. However, the race was far from smooth as several drivers suffered misfortune. Early incidents involved TRIDENT and Hitech Grand Prix, forcing Freddie Slater and Fionn McLaughlin to retire early.
Van Amersfoort Racing drivers Enzo Deligny and Bruno Del Pino also fell victim to the chaos, along with Maciej Gladysz of ART Grand Prix and Jose Garfias of PREMA Racing. All failed to finish. Meanwhile, Niccolo Maccagnani and Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi were also absent from the final classification, indicating they too encountered problems.
Amidst the chaos, Clerot remained calm and maintained his rhythm. He pulled away from Kato and Taponen. Kato, driving for the Japanese team, applied pressure but Clerot was unshaken. Taponen, the fast Finnish driver, had to settle for third after a tight battle with Kato.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Clerot, who had never stood on the top step before. It is also a positive result for his team amid the fierce competition of the 2026 Formula 3 season. For Kato and Taponen, this podium adds to their points tally in the drivers' standings.
The Feature Race in Madrid served as a reminder that Formula 3 always delivers drama. With many drivers failing to finish, Clerot proved that consistency and composure are key. Now, attention turns to the next race, where rivals will look to bounce back.
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