Monaco, May 26, 2025 – A year after tasting victory in the sprint race, Bulgarian racing prodigy Nikola Tsolov returned to Monaco and left no doubt about his prowess by conquering the Formula 3 main race in commanding fashion.
Starting from pole, Tsolov delivered a masterclass in control and pace, fending off challenges and navigating two safety car periods to claim his first-ever feature race win in the prestigious principality.
The ART Grand Prix driver had already laid down a marker during Friday’s qualifying session, securing pole position with a blistering lap.
When the lights went out on Sunday, Tsolov launched cleanly, maintaining his advantage into the first corner and quickly building a gap from his closest rival, Polish-British driver Roman Bilinski.
Tsolov’s pace was relentless. By lap 18 of the 27-lap contest, he had carved out a commanding lead of 8.5 seconds. However, the race momentum was temporarily halted when Noel Leon crashed into the barriers at the entrance to the Portier section, triggering the first safety car deployment.
Once the marshals cleared the wreckage and the race resumed at the end of lap 19, Tsolov wasted no time reasserting his dominance. He swiftly distanced himself from Bilinski again, while Bilinski found himself under pressure from Tsolov’s teammate, Mari Boya.
The drama escalated on lap 21 with a second safety car, caused by two separate incidents. Charlie Wurtz, who had earlier sustained front wing damage from a clash with Leon, lost control and hit the wall at Massne.
Simultaneously, Nicola Marinangeli collided with Brando Badoer at Portier, causing a blockage that brought the marshals back into action.
Unfazed by the interruptions, Tsolov once again executed a perfect restart and pulled away for a third time, ultimately crossing the line 7.2 seconds clear of Bilinski. Boya, despite several aggressive attempts, had to settle for third as Bilinski held his ground under pressure.
Callum Voisin and Tim Tramnitz finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Positions six through ten were claimed by Laurens van Hoepen, Tuukka Taponen, Martinius Stenshorne, Louis Sharp, and Alessandro Giusti.
Championship leader Rafael Camara endured a nightmare in Monaco. After capitalizing on early retirements to climb into the top ten, the Brazilian’s race ended abruptly when his right rear wheel detached during the second restart. It was his first non-finish of the season, shaking up the title standings.
Despite the setback, Camara remains at the top with 77 points, though his lead has narrowed to 13 points over Tramnitz. Tsolov’s emphatic victory has propelled him to third in the standings, just 16 points off the lead, reigniting his championship campaign.
The Formula 3 championship continues next weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a venue where Tsolov has historically performed well, and momentum now firmly on his side.