Qualifying
In his first-ever Monaco weekend, Tuukka took time to settle in before picking up the pace and securing 5th place in Group A. Laurens mirrored that performance with 5th in Group B, while James qualified 11th in his group.
Sprint Race
• Starting side-by-side on the second row, Laurens (P3) and Tuukka (P4) swapped places thanks to a superb getaway from the Finn. Both gained another position into Turn 1 and stayed close for the rest of the race, securing a double podium: Tuukka 2nd, Laurens 3rd.
• James, starting 22nd, was caught in traffic during a race shortened by a long safety car period, limiting any chances of progress.
Feature Race
• Just like in the previous round, Tuukka and Laurens gained a place on Lap 1 and ran closely together for most of the race. A mid-race incident gave Laurens the chance to overtake Tuukka, who was delayed by a crash that brought out the safety car. They finished 6th and 7th respectively.
• James delivered a fantastic comeback from 22nd to 11th, narrowly missing out on a points finish.
Tuukka Taponen:
“A strong start in Race 1 allowed me to gain a few places early on, and from then, it was all about staying clean and focused. The second race went similarly until the incident, which made things more complicated. Laurens passed me, and then it was about staying composed — defending from behind while overtaking a struggling car.
I’m proud to bring home another podium — the team’s best result this season so far. Now the goal is to climb one more step up the podium.”
Laurens Van Hoepen:
“Getting on the podium in the Sprint was a big boost after a slightly disappointing qualifying. Since overtaking is so difficult here, I chose not to take unnecessary risks that could hurt the team.
Sunday’s race was chaotic, but we still scored big points. That’s very encouraging for Barcelona. After a tough start to the season, we’re finally seeing our hard work pay off.
It’s my second time on the Monaco podium in F3, and it still feels just as special. I really hope my season is now fully back on track.”
Sébastien Philippe:
“Early-season data shows that ART Grand Prix and our three drivers are competitive, even if the raw results haven’t always reflected that.
In Monaco, more than anywhere else, perfection is required — the smallest mistake or delay can be very costly.
After a cautious start in free practice, we were able to push harder. A double podium, two more point-scoring finishes for Tuukka and Laurens, and James’s brilliant comeback on Sunday are all extremely satisfying.
It’s our best points haul so far and we’ve moved up a position in the standings. Now it’s time to keep this momentum going for Barcelona.”
