Rodin Motorsport’s Louis Sharp showed grit and resilience in the Bahrain heat, but it was Rafael Câmara who shone brightest under the desert sun, cruising to his second Feature Race victory of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 season.
Starting from 18th, Kiwi talent Louis Sharp lined up alongside Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, ready to launch a charge through the field. But in a cruel twist, the 17-year-old stalled on the grid, falling to the back of the pack before the race began. While his weekend had promised potential, the stall turned the Feature Race into a damage limitation exercise.
Up front, teammate Callum Voisin had made a lightning getaway from P2, snatching the lead from pole-sitter Câmara into Turn 1, while Charlie Wurz held station in third.
A chaotic Lap 2 saw James Wharton spin in a three-wide clash at Turn 1, collecting Ivan Domingues and Matías Zagazeta in the process. Santiago Ramos took evasive action through the run-off. The incident disrupted several drivers’ races and brought Zagazeta into the pits early.
Back in the chaos, Sharp was already mounting a gritty comeback, fighting his way into 25th within a few laps. But on a circuit where overtaking is hard-earned and races are short, every second counts.
The Kiwi’s charge was hampered by an off-track moment on Lap 7 while attempting to pass Gerrard Xie, dropping him back to 24th, and later to 27th. It was a tough pill to swallow for a driver who had shown strong form in pre-season testing and demonstrated sharp racecraft in the sprint race.
Meanwhile, up at the front, the battle raged. Voisin briefly reclaimed the lead with a tidy switchback on Câmara into Turn 4, but the Brazilian struck again on Lap 5—this time making it stick.
From there, Câmara stretched his legs and never looked back, eventually crossing the line with a commanding six-second margin.
Tuukka Taponen was on a mission of his own. The ART Grand Prix rookie muscled his way into podium contention, overtaking both Bruno del Pino and Christian Ho early on before entering a fierce battle with Wurz.
Taponen emerged ahead by Lap 7, setting his sights on Voisin. Behind them, a DRS train built up with Tim Tramnitz, Nikola Tsolov, and Noah Strømsted all in tow, creating a tense fight for the final podium spot.
By Lap 17, Tramnitz executed a textbook move around the outside of Turn 4 to demote Wurz. By the closing laps, the Austrian had fallen out of the points altogether, struggling with tyre degradation. Voisin held on for second behind Câmara while Tramnitz completed the podium.
Despite the drama, it was a lonely race for Sharp, who ultimately finished 24th—gaining just three places after the early stall. While the result wasn’t what the young New Zealander hoped for, his perseverance highlighted the tenacity that’s quickly making him one to watch in the F3 paddock.
The Kiwi’s raw pace and racing IQ are undeniable, but Bahrain served up a cruel reminder of how unforgiving this level of motorsport can be. Given a clean start and a fair shake, expect Sharp to bounce back with force when the championship resumes in Imola.
“Bahrain threw a few challenges our way. We were on the back foot from the start and couldn’t unlock the pace we know is there. Not the result we came for, but plenty to learn from, eyes forward.” said Sharp
Câmara now sits atop the Drivers’ Championship with 56 points, ahead of Tramnitz (30), while Voisin and Stromsted are tied for third on 27. In the Teams’ standings, TRIDENT leads the way with 93 points, with MP Motorsport and Campos Racing close behind. Rodin Motorsport sits fourth, with eyes firmly set on climbing.
Next up: Imola. It is a historic track where fortunes can change in a heartbeat—and Louis Sharp will no doubt be looking for redemption.
Header Image: James Gasperotti Photography
