Formula 3: Brando Badoer secures maiden victory in 2026 Monaco Feature Race

Written by Teagan Strachan

Credit: Formula 3 via X

After a chaotic race on Saturday morning it was all to race for on Sunday for the final race of the second round in the Formula 3 season. As the sun rose on Monte Carlo, the morning welcomed the F3 Feature race with Theophile Nael on pole, alongside Brando Badoer who was looking to bounce back from Saturday's retirement.

How it happened

As lights went out it was three wide in a sprint down to Sainte Devote, with Badoer coming out in front following a strong launch off the line, overtaking Nael for the lead. Freddie Slater had to take avoiding action, cutting the chicane but maintaining his position.

At the back of the field, Fionn Mclaughlin made strong progress moving up from 27^th to 23^rd.

The tight streets of Monaco struck again in Lap 2 as a collision between Tuukka Taponen and Maciej Gladysz saw the former find the barrier, marking the end of his race. As a safety car was called, Gladysz took the opportunity to pit for a front wing change after the collision.

Come Lap 5 racing was back with Badoer getting a strong restart giving him a prime opportunity to extend his lead. However, Nael was quick to respond putting brave defensive pressure on the race leader.

Enzo Deligny had slight contact with the wall into the seventh lap but saved his position and maintained his composure.

As the race reached the halfway mark positions remained steady but Nael, Nicola Lacorte and Matteo De Palo all deciding to avoid the Nouvelle chicane.

Meanwhile into Lap 14, Slater was gaining strong pace taking offensive action on Nael attempting to find a gap that would progress him into second.

To end Lap 19, Fernando Barrichello slowly pulled into the pits to retire from the race after clipping the wall earlier in the lap.

In the midfield, Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi felt the pressure come Lap 22, as Del Palo found pace taking a courageous charge to cinch 15^th position.

As the race drew to a close, an incident in the penultimate lap with Yevan David around the Fairmont Hairpin saw Bhirombhakdi fall to the back of the field. Simultaneously, teammate Lacorte was out of the race.

After maintaining his strong lead off the line, Badoer held steady throughout the race taking his maiden victory for Formula 3 in Monaco. He became the first Italian since Garbriele Mini to do so.

Polesitter Nael crossed the line in second followed by Slater in third to round out the podium. Ugo Ugochukwo came in fourth and Emerson Rivera in fifth.

What’s next

With Ugochukwu leading the championship, the 2026 Formula 3 season will continue in Barcelona, Spain for Round 3 from the 12-14 June at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.