Leonardo Fornaroli on testing the new F3 car: More grip and excitement for new era

After taking the 2024 title, Leonardo Fornaroli was back at the wheel of a Formula 3 car, but not the one he piloted to the Championship this year.
The Italian driver had a final F3 bow as part of developmental tests with the new 2025 car which he put through its paces ahead of the introduction next year.
Having ended the previous era on the highest possible note, Fornaroli was expertly placed to give feedback on what the new car brings, and he was hugely positive about the changes.
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“It was amazing to try the new generation of F3 car,” the 2024 F3 Champion said. “It felt very good. There wasn’t too much change, or I was expecting it to be more different but actually, they’re quite similar in terms of the chassis.
“The 16-inch tyres mean it’s a new compound, so there’s some work to do around those. But it’s going in the right direction. Overall, I was happy in the car, and it was amazing to try it.”
The introduction of the bigger tyres for next season could be one of the most visually striking changes that the new car brings, but Fornaroli says from the cockpit, the switch is only a positive.
He detailed the feeling the tyre gives, adding that across the compounds he got to trial, he was impressed with the level of traction and the reactiveness of the 2025 F3 car.
Those changes have been implemented to further align the Formula 3 Championship with what comes next in drivers’ careers, and to better prepare them for the future as the tyres take a step closer to those used in Formula 2 and Formula 1.
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“The main thing I felt with the new tyres was in the initial turn in phase and the change of direction. I don’t know if it’s more related to the car or the tyres, but there is quite a lot of traction.
“The tyre wall is a lower profile and more similar to a road car, so it’s more reactive to the changes in direction, which is better. Traction is super good. I tested several compounds, and it was good.”
Over on the mechanical side, Fornaroli also noticed that the gearbox had been improved from the old generation of car.
Having completed his testing mileage, he was impressed with how he could lean more on the gearbox performance, adding that he had enjoyed the testing experience with the new car.
“The gearbox is more efficient than before; you can downshift a bit quicker, but the car remains stable.
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“I was actually quite sad after finishing the season and knowing I wouldn’t drive in F3 again. But to have this opportunity to test the new car was a great experience. I got to try something new, experience and develop a new tyre, I enjoyed the days a lot.”
The new F3 car will be in action for the first time in the hands of the teams and drivers in 2025 at pre-season testing before the first competitive race weekend kicks off a new era, as Melbourne opens the season on March 14-16.