F3 announces €1million prize fund to aid junior single-seater progression

Formula 3 will introduce a €1million prize fund to financially support drivers moving up the junior single-seater ladder.

Starting with the ongoing 2025 season, the top five finishers in the championship will share the pot to help them progress to Formula 2.

Under the arrangement, the title winner will receive €300,000, with the remaining prize money distributed on a sliding scale down to fifth place. The second-placed finisher will receive €250,000, third-placed driver will take home €200,000, while drivers classified fourth and fifth will receive €150,000 and €100,000 respectively.

However, F3 has stipulated that the prize money will only be awarded to drivers moving up to F2 the following year, otherwise it will pass to the next-highest placed driver eligible.

The initiative comes on top of Pirelli’s long-standing €300,000 award for the champion, meaning the 2025 title winner will secure a total of €600,000 in funding towards their F2 graduation.

Podium: F3 Drivers champion and race winner Rafael Camara, Trident, second place Mari Boya, Campos Racing

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Brazil's Rafael Camara was crowned the 2025 title winner at Monza earlier this month.

“I am pleased to announce this million-Euro fund, which will benefit the five highest-placed Formula 3 drivers, alongside the substantial prize offered by our partner, Pirelli, which goes to the champion,” said Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 3 CEO.

“It is vital to support emerging talent on their road to Formula 1. Formula 3 is a fantastic training ground for these young racers to hone their skills to move up the pyramid, and this additional financial reward will help them to go even further in their efforts towards the pinnacle of motorsport.”

The move mirrors the Road to Indy programme, where the Indy NXT champion receives significant financial backing towards an IndyCar seat, as well as additional testing opportunities in America’s premier single-seater category.

The cost of competing in F2 has risen sharply in recent years, with drivers paying anywhere between €2 million to €3 million for a full-season campaign.