Nakamura leads Formula 3 Madrid Practice as title rivals trade top spot
Nakamura sets the pace in Madrid
Jin Nakamura gave Hitech the strongest possible start to the Madrid weekend, topping Formula 3 practice with a late-session lap of 1:49.835. The Japanese driver moved ahead in the final minute to finish one tenth clear of compatriot Taito Kato, who had led for ART Grand Prix, while Van Amersfoort Racing’s Enzo Deligny completed the top three.
The session developed into a closely fought exchange between the leading drivers. Kato established the initial benchmark with a 1:53.026, briefly heading an early ART 1-2-3. He then lowered the pace to 1:52.026, only for Tuukka Taponen to respond by 0.037 seconds. Kato returned to the front with 15 minutes remaining on a 1:51.567, before title contender Ugo Ugochukwu took over with a 1:51.192.
Ugochukwu continued to improve, cutting more than half a second from his next attempt to set a 1:50.587, with Campos Racing teammate Ernesto Rivera moving into second. Championship leader Freddie Slater answered shortly afterwards, reducing the benchmark to 1:50.453.
The title fight remains central to the Madrid weekend, as outlined in our Formula 3 Madrid finale preview. On track, the advantage repeatedly changed hands between Slater and Ugochukwu, while Kato, Deligny and the Hitech drivers remained firmly in contention.
Late improvements decide the order
Pedro Clerot saw an earlier third-place time deleted, but returned to the top three with just over 15 minutes left. Taponen and Rodin Motorsport teammate Brando Badoer also featured inside the top five during the late reshuffling, while Fionn McLaughlin moved just behind Clerot for Hitech.
Ugochukwu subsequently set a 1:50.268 to go fastest again, but Slater immediately edged ahead by 0.072 seconds. Deligny then moved into second, just 0.069 seconds off the lead, before Kato produced a 1:49.936 to reclaim first place.
Ugochukwu finished 0.064 seconds behind Kato, with Rivera only 0.002 seconds further back and Slater fourth at that stage. Nakamura’s final-lap improvement ultimately settled the session.
A red flag ended practice after Nicola Lacorte crashed at the exit of Turn 9 in the closing seconds. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver was reported to be OK after tagging the barriers.
Nakamura led Kato, Deligny, Ugochukwu and Rivera, with Slater sixth ahead of McLaughlin, Taponen, Clerot and Bruno Del Pino. The first of two Qualifying sessions begins at 18:25 local time, with the second scheduled to follow at 18:55.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.