Freddie Slater won the Formula 3 Feature Race in Budapest after a close final restart. The Trident driver finished ahead of Ugo Ugochukwu and Brando Badoer. The result also moved Slater to the top of the drivers’ standings.
Slater started from the front row beside Tuukka Taponen. He took the lead after Tuukka Taponen suffered a puncture. Two late interruptions then placed Ugochukwu directly behind the leader.
Taponen loses the lead after early contact
Taponen kept first place through the opening corners. Slater stayed close, while Badoer and Ugochukwu followed the leading pair. The first decisive moment came when Slater attacked Taponen. Slater damaged his front wing, while Taponen suffered a puncture. Taponen used the safety-car period to enter the pits.
Slater inherited the lead but could not relax. Ugochukwu had moved through the group and reached second place. Badoer held third after avoiding the trouble ahead. The three drivers then created a small gap over the next group.
The Hungaroring gives drivers few simple passing chances. That made clean exits from the final corner especially important. Slater protected the inside line at the first corner when required. Ugochukwu remained near enough to keep pressure on the leader.
Taponen returned in sixth place after the stop. Slater now led, while Ugochukwu moved forward from the third row. The American soon reached second and began pressuring the leader.
Two stoppages shorten the final contest
A virtual safety car was required after Kanato Le stopped on lap thirteen. The reduced speed removed the small gaps across the leading group. Slater judged the restart well and kept Ugochukwu behind. Badoer remained close enough to follow their fight.
A three-car collision later brought out the full safety car. Marshals needed time to clear the stopped cars and loose debris. The field formed behind Slater before racing resumed on lap eighteen. Only a short run remained before the chequered flag.
Ugochukwu attacked immediately after the restart. Slater placed his car carefully through the opening sector. He avoided wheelspin and reached the first corner in front. That clean launch prevented Ugochukwu from drawing fully alongside.
Badoer watched the duel from third place but found no clear opening. The Italian also needed to protect his position from the cars behind. Slater then completed the remaining laps without a major mistake. Ugochukwu crossed the line close behind but could not complete a pass.
The podium changes the championship order
The victory was Slater’s first win in Formula 3. It followed a consistent rookie season with seven podiums across seven rounds. Those results had kept him near the lead before Budapest. The Feature Race finally added a victory to that record.
Ugochukwu scored important points in second place. He had arrived at the race as the championship leader. His recovery from the second row kept the difference small. Slater now leads with 130 points, while Ugochukwu has 122.
| Winner | Freddie Slater |
|---|---|
| Podium | Slater, Ugochukwu, Badoer |
| Championship | Slater 130 points, Ugochukwu 122 |
| Team | Trident |
Badoer completed the podium after a measured race. He stayed clear of the early contact and handled both restarts. His third place gave him a strong result before the summer break. The podium contained three drivers from three different teams.
The next driver in the standings is Theophile Nael with 85 points. That leaves Slater and Ugochukwu separated from the nearest challenger. The gap remains recoverable because several races are still available. Budapest still gave the leading pair a clear advantage.
Slater credits overnight work for the result
Slater said the team improved the car after the Sprint. He felt more comfortable during the longer Sunday race. That progress helped him manage the pace before the late interruptions. It also gave him confidence during the final restart.
The rookie described the victory as an important reward for Trident. His engineers had worked after a difficult part of the weekend. The car remained stable through the slow and medium-speed corners. Slater could therefore focus on defending rather than correcting balance problems.
His strongest work came when the field was compressed. Both restarts required immediate tyre temperature and accurate braking. Slater delivered those details while Ugochukwu stayed within attacking distance. The final margin was small, but the lead never changed.
Budapest ended with a first victory and the championship lead. Those achievements came from the same controlled drive. Slater converted a front-row start after the pole-sitter hit trouble. He then defended the position through every later interruption.
The leaders deliver under restart pressure
Ugochukwu reached second place before the late interruptions. He stayed within sight of Slater through the middle sector. That position gave him the first chance to attack after each restart. Slater answered by keeping his exits clean through the final corners.
Badoer spent the closing laps close to the leading pair. He did not receive a clear chance to pass Ugochukwu. His third place still gave Trident two cars on the podium. The team converted its race pace into a large points return.
The final restart left little time for a second attempt. Slater placed the car on the defensive line into the first corner. Ugochukwu remained close but could not draw fully alongside. Badoer followed them home without losing third place.
The victory arrived after Slater had already shown regular qualifying speed. Budapest added his first Feature Race win to that progress. It also placed him eight points ahead of Ugochukwu. The championship now enters its next round with a new leader.
Colnaghi finished fourth, with Nael and Taponen behind him. Rivera took seventh ahead of Lacorte. Wharton and Sharp completed the points positions.
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