Formula 3 2026 Monte Carlo Qualifying groups are now finalised

The narrow, unforgiving streets of Monte Carlo present the ultimate challenge for junior single-seater drivers. Because traffic is always a nightmare in the Principality, the FIA Formula 3 grid is split into two groups for qualifying.

During Wednesday's official Drivers' Briefing, a ballot was held to determine the running order for Round 2's crucial Qualifying session. Here is how the grid will be divided and how the unique Monaco format actually works.

Group A vs. Group B: The Ballot Results

The ballot decided a straightforward split based on the drivers' official car numbers:

• Group A will consist of all cars with even numbers.

• Group B will be made up of all cars with odd numbers.

Friday Qualifying Schedule

Group A won the ballot to hit the track first. They will kick off the opening segment of the session at 11:05 local time on Friday morning.

Once Group A concludes, Group B will immediately follow, taking to the historic street circuit at 11:29 local time.

How the Monaco F3 Grid is Decided

Because track conditions evolve rapidly in Monaco, simply ranking the fastest 30 lap times wouldn't be fair to the group that ran first. Instead, the grid is determined by an aggregated result:

The Feature Race Grid (Sunday)

• The driver who sets the fastest overall lap time across both sessions will secure the prestigious Feature Race Pole Position.

• The driver who topped the opposite group will automatically start alongside them in P2 on the front row.

• The rest of the grid is then filled by alternating between the two groups based on their session classifications (e.g., 2nd in the fastest group gets P3, 2nd in the slower group gets P4, and so on).

The Sprint Race Reverse Grid (Saturday) Formula 3's signature reverse grid adds another layer of strategy. For Saturday's Sprint Race, the top 12 grid positions are reversed:

• The driver who finishes sixth-fastest in the second fastest group will inherit the reverse grid Pole Position.

• The sixth-fastest driver from the group that produced the overall pole-sitter will start from P2.

With overtaking notoriously difficult in Monaco, Friday morning's split qualifying sessions are arguably the most important 30 minutes of the entire Formula 3 calendar.