MP Motorsport’s Mattia Colnaghi during FIA Formula 3 Championship practice at the Australian Grand Prix. Image: InSyde Media
With just over five minutes to go in the 45-minute session, Mattia Colnaghi’s MP Motorsport car belched flames coming out of the final turn.
He pulled over to the side of the circuit approaching Turn 1, bringing out localised yellow flags before the red flag was drawn.
The Red Bull-backed driver finished the session 15th.
It was an awkwardly timed stoppage as drivers readied themselves for a qualifying simulation.
🔴 RED FLAG 🔴
Mattia Colnaghi has stopped on track.#F3 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/R3wDmJwEJG
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) March 5, 2026
Australia’s leading interest was Prema Racing’s James Wharton in 17th, one second off the pace of Campos Racing’s Ugo Ugochukwu.
Patrick Heuzenroeder was well off the pace in 28th as he got to grips with the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.
He torched his tyres twice. He ran wide at Turn 3 after a front left lock-up and repeated the feat shortly after at Turn 1 and bounced over the grass.
New Zealand’s Louis Sharp was 10th and was the best of the Prema trio.
Several drivers tested the limits. Formula Regional Oceania Trophy graduates Gerrard Xie and Yevan David both explored the outfield at Turn 3 and Turn 1 respectively.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship will return at 2:00pm AEDT for qualifying to set the grid for Race 1 of the weekend.
Results: FIA Formula 3 Championship Australian Grand Prix, Practice
Pos
Num
Driver
Laps
Lap
Diff
Gap
1
2
Ugo Ugochukwu
13
1:34.607
2
18
Brando Badoer
16
1:35.034
0.4
0.4
3
4
Noah Stromsted
15
1:35.056
0.4
0
4
1
Theophile Nael
14
1:35.070
0.4
0
5
9
Alessandro Giusti
13
1:35.078
0.4
0
6
26
Brad Benavides
15
1:35.131
0.5
0
7
17
Pedro Clerot
16
1:35.243
0.6
0.1
8
29
Nicola Lacorte
15
1:35.244
0.6
0
9
19
Christian Ho
15
1:35.262
0.6
0
10
20
Louis Sharp
17
1:35.335
0.7
0
11
16
Bruno Del Pino
18
1:35.359
0.7
0
12
10
Taito Kato
15
1:35.387
0.7
0
13
8
Tuukka Taponen
13
1:35.454
0.8
0
14
5
Freddie Slater
16
1:35.456
0.8
0
15
7
Mattia Colnaghi
16
1:35.495
0.8
0
16
6
Matteo De Palo
17
1:35.586
0.9
0
17
21
James Wharton
16
1:35.659
1
0
18
25
Jin Nakamura
18
1:35.687
1
0
19
11
Maciej Gladysz
15
1:35.692
1
0
20
22
Jose Garfias
16
1:35.715
1.1
0
21
15
Enzo Deligny
14
1:35.727
1.1
0
22
31
Gerrard Xie
16
1:35.821
1.2
0
23
12
Kanato Le
14
1:35.977
1.3
0.1
24
24
Fionn McLaughlin
19
1:36.096
1.4
0.1
25
14
Hiyu Yamakoshi
16
1:36.239
1.6
0.1
26
27
Yevan David
14
1:36.317
1.7
0
27
23
Woohyun Shin
18
1:36.870
2.2
0.5
28
3
Patrick Heuzenroeder
16
1:37.046
2.4
0.1
29
30
Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi
17
1:37.142
2.5
0
30
28
Fernando Barrichello
14
1:37.210
2.6
0
