In the glittering backdrop of the Côte d’Azur, Nikola Tsolov delivered a sublime performance to claim pole position for the FIA Formula 3 Feature Race in Monaco, topping a fiercely contested qualifying session split into two groups on the iconic street circuit.
As per tradition in the principality, the 30-car field was divided into two groups following a ballot during Wednesday’s Drivers’ Briefing, with even-numbered cars heading out first in Group A. With track position absolutely vital around the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo, the 16-minute sessions offered little margin for error.
Group A: Campos Sets the Pace
The first segment got underway under clear skies and mounting tension. Bulgarian talent Tsolov immediately picked up where he left off in practice, setting the early pace for Campos Racing with a 1:26.072. A momentary scare came as Louis Sharp locked up and ran deep into Sainte Dévote, but the Rodin driver continued without incident.
As the times tumbled, Noel León surged to the top with a blistering 1:22.502 for PREMA Racing, putting himself on provisional pole. But the battle was far from over. Mari Boya then responded with a tidy 1:25.480 to briefly lead the timesheets for Campos.
In a dramatic final lap dash, Tsolov delivered under pressure, aided by a well-timed slipstream, to clock a 1:24.882 — the fastest time of the day. Boya came close but couldn’t best his teammate, securing a strong 1-2 for Campos Racing to end Group A.
Group B: Drama and Delays
The second half of qualifying was no less eventful. With the benchmark set, the odd-numbered cars took to the track in search of pole. Championship leader Rafael Camara briefly took control with a tidy 1:25.635, but yellow flags disrupted early momentum as both Nicola Lacorte and Ugo Ugochukwu ran into trouble at Turn 1.
ART Grand Prix’s Laurens van Hoepen and Rodin’s Callum Voisin traded fastest sectors before Voisin snatched P1, only for teammate Roman Bilinski to split the pair and edge closer to the front.
But with just over three minutes remaining, the session was red-flagged after Brando Badoer crashed into the barriers at Sainte Dévote.The Italian was unharmed, but the clock was stopped.
When action resumed, tyre preparation was limited, and chaos nearly struck again as van Hoepen brushed the wall exiting the Swimming Pool chicane. However, it was Bilinski who kept his cool, setting a blistering 1:25.332 to edge Voisin by just 0.027s and top the group.
Despite a valiant effort, Camara had to settle for third in Group B — and with the slower overall time, it meant Tsolov’s Group A-topping lap stood firm as the pole-winning effort.
The Grid Ahead
With Tsolov’s triumph, the Bulgarian secures the coveted Aramco Pole Position Award for Saturday’s Feature Race — a significant advantage on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult. Campos Racing’s dominance was underlined by Boya locking out the front row in P2.
Bilinski’s stellar late lap puts him third on the overall grid, followed by Voisin, Camara, and León. As for tomorrow’s sprint Race, Frenchman Alessandro Giusti is set to start from reverse grid pole, with lights out scheduled for 10:45 local time.
In Monte Carlo, where the barriers are unforgiving and margins razor-thin, Saturday’s racing promises fireworks — but for now, it’s Nikola Tsolov who reigns supreme in the principality.