Hitech targets another strong weekend in Budapest
Round 7 – Budapest – Preview
Just one week on from a standout weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, the FIA Formula 3 Championship heads to the Hungaroring for Round 7 of the season, with Hitech aiming to build on Jin Nakamura’s maiden FIA Formula 3 victory.
The Belgian weekend marked an important step forward for the team, with Nakamura claiming victory in the Sprint Race before adding further championship points with a strong recovery drive in the Feature Race. Fionn McLaughlin also produced impressive recoveries across both races, highlighting the pace within the Hitech package.
With little time between events, the team has quickly shifted its focus to another demanding circuit, aiming to carry the momentum from Spa into the second half of the season.
The Hungaroring presents a very different challenge to Spa-Francorchamps. Measuring 4.381km, the technical circuit is characterised by its sequence of medium and slow-speed corners, where precision and consistency are essential. With limited overtaking opportunities, qualifying performance and race execution will be key factors across the weekend.
The opening sector features the heavy braking zone into Turn 1, providing the circuit’s main overtaking opportunity, while the flowing middle section requires confidence and rhythm. Tyre management is also expected to play an important role, particularly in the high summer temperatures often experienced at the Hungarian venue.
Jin Nakamura arrives in Budapest full of confidence after becoming the first Japanese driver in five years to win an FIA Formula 3 race. Having also recovered from P15 to score points in the Feature Race at Spa, he will be targeting another strong weekend as he continues his push up the Drivers’ Championship standings.
Fionn McLaughlin heads to Hungary looking to build on an impressive weekend in Belgium, where he gained 20 positions across the two races. After showing strong race pace in recent rounds, the focus will be on converting that performance into a competitive overall result.
Michael Shin will be aiming for a clean and consistent weekend after a challenging Spa event. The South Korean driver has continued to show progress throughout the season and will be looking to maximise every opportunity at the Hungaroring.
Paul Bellringer, Hitech F3 Team Manager:
“Spa was a fantastic weekend for the team and a great reward for everyone's hard work. Jin's victory was thoroughly deserved, and it was equally encouraging to see Fionn's recovery drives across both races. ”
“Budapest is a very different challenge, with qualifying and race execution becoming even more important around a circuit where opportunities can be limited. The focus is on carrying our momentum forward and delivering another strong weekend.”
