After a close Sakhir F3 Round Qualifying session, on the opening day of the 2025 Bahrain GP weekend, TRIDENT’s Charlie Wurz managed difficult track conditions to finish third. With Wurz sharing the top 3 with teammate Rafael Câmara, who claimed pole position, it is safe to say that TRIDENT could be a strong contender for the races ahead.
Best qualifying performance in F3 for Wurz
In his second season driving in F3, the Austrian harnessed his skill and the car’s full potential to achieve his best performance in the series so far. During the FIA F3 Post-Qualifying press conference, attended by Pit Debrief, Wurz expressed his satisfaction with the great accomplishment:
“Yeah, I mean, it’s good to start in the top three. I think it’s important.
“And it’s obviously a good starting position, good results to kick-start the weekend.”
Following the statements of his teammate and championship leader, Câmara, as well as Rodin Motorsport’s Callum Voisin (P2), Wurz mentioned the team’s strategy of using only two new sets of tyres, preserving a fresh one for the race. This strategy, Wurz believes, could prove crucial during F3 Bahrain GP weekend.
“On a track like this, it’s easy to overtake as well, and we have, like the other two, one new set of tyres for Sunday’s race as well, which will help.”
Showing confidence for the races ahead
When asked about the car’s overall performance—highlighted by his impressive start in Free Practice—19-year-old Wurz expressed confidence in a strong race ahead. Acknowledging the challenges of driving on such a demanding circuit, he emphasized the importance of putting in extra preparation.
“Yeah, I mean, I knew the car was going to be good. I knew what to improve from the test. So I really just focused on preparing the race weekend well.
“And, yeah, we started off, first push was good, second push was good in free practice, and the same in quali, both laps were strong. So I think, yeah, every lap’s been good, and I know the race pace is very strong as well. So looking forward to the races.”
Moreover, TRIDENT has demonstrated impressive pace both in Australia and now here in Bahrain. Wurz expressed strong confidence in both himself and his team, anticipating a positive result.
“Yeah, I’m quite confident, I think. Well, tomorrow’s race is obviously about making some positions, but also learning and fine-tuning the car for Sunday. But I’m confident that I have the package, the team around me and the pace to do a good race on Sunday.”
Possible rivalry between Wurz and Câmara
With TRIDENT already showcasing dominant form, questions have emerged about a potential internal challenge between the drivers. Câmara is widely considered a strong contender for the championship, while Wurz remains eager to secure his first FIA F3 victory. As the fight for points intensifies, the duo could face difficulties balancing individual ambitions with team dynamics.
The Austrian said, “Yeah, I think it’s good to have two good teammates. It’s definitely helpful to learn from each other, not only on track, but also on the sim.
“I think that’s beneficial for all. The most important part of the season is done, all the preparation, and now we’re getting into the race weekends where you get very little practice. In the end, you race your teammates the same.”
Expanding on his response, Wurz shared that his main focus for the 2025 season is to race cleanly and consistently collect points. He also highlighted the importance of staying on top of future upgrades and fine-tuning their own setup to remain competitive throughout the year.
“Of course, we want a good result for the team’s championship, but also as a driver, you want a good result in the driver’s. But in the end, we just have to keep our heads down, focus on making steps forward, because everyone is improving. It’s a new car, so everyone’s always making steps.
“So we just have to focus on fine-tuning everything and getting the package right, getting my driving right, and then whatever happens on Sunday happens. But yeah, the most important is to race clean and get points. That’s what we saw last year, how Forneroli did well.”
Feature race and Sprint predictions
Exuding confidence for the races ahead—and with the prospect of a potential podium within reach—Wurz believes he can achieve a strong result and fully harness the car’s performance.
“A big part of the job is qualifying in F3 with such a big grid and getting that out of the way is important with a good result. And then the race pace in testing was very strong, so that gives me more confidence and I know we can do a good result as long as we follow all the procedures, make everything right, and then we’ll have a good race on Sunday.”
Wurz looking forward to “tough” weekend ahead
In response to a question from Pit Debrief about the challenges posed by this classic circuit—ranging from track limits violations to high tyre degradation—Wurz expressed his enjoyment of such demanding racing conditions. He predicted a tough but thrilling battle ahead for all FIA F3 drivers.
“Yes, first of all, track limits. I think the track did a good job. With track limits, it’s quite difficult to do, and if you do them, you lose time for sure, so I think that’s not really been an issue on this circuit.
“And then degradation, of course, there is some, and it’s the same for all drivers. It’s one of the toughest tracks for the tyres, so that’ll be definitely a challenge, especially with the more heat. So I think we’ll all have to manage a bit, but that’s part of the game, and then in the end, as long as you drive smooth, drive as fast as you can, we’ll see who comes out on top.
“But yeah, it’ll be hot, it’ll be physical, and that’s what I enjoy. If you put in the work during the winter training, then you’ll get the rewards during the races, the most tough races especially, so I’m looking forward to it.”
