Brad Benavides takes F3 pole with final push at Monza
The American took his second pole position of the season as the FIA Formula 3 season concludes at Monza.
MONZA, Italy – Brad Benavides took pole position for the FIA Formula 3 weekend at the Italian Grand Prix with a blazing final attempt around the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
It is the second pole position of the season for the American, setting a lap of 1:38.120 top of both his group and the session in the split-qualifying format.
The first time was so nice, he had to do it twice! 😮💨
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) September 5, 2025
A second @aramco Pole Position for Brad Benavides! 👏🥇#F3 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/FrLpKlww60
Nikita Johnson and Roman Bilinski were out on track early in Group A, with the rest of the field scrambling to join them with just over five minutes remaining.
Rafael Câmara was fastest in the early stages, just clear of Ugo Ugochukwu, while only three drivers made it around in time for a second lap.
None were able to best Câmara, and his time was sensationally deleted for exceeding track limits at turn five.
That left McLaren junior Ugochukwu in prime position and with a nervous wait to see if he would be bested by the second group.
Drivers in Group B learnt from the earlier chaos and made their way out on track immediately, with lap times falling quickly in the later stages.
Benavides, one of the last drivers to set a lap, took his second pole of the season.
"I was definitely over the moon," said the American.
"Unexpected this time, pretty much like all the other qualifying sessions that I’ve done well in this season. It’s the last dance of the championship so definitely glad and humbled to be able to do it again here for that reason."
Aussie James Wharton was 11th in Group A, leaving him in P22 for both races at Monza.
His ART Grand Prix teammate Laurens van Hoepen will line up from reverse-grid pole alongside Martinius Stenshorne in the sprint race, underway at 5.15pm Saturday (AEST).
