The Belgian driver takes a commanding lead in the overall standings, while Griffin Core also extends its lead in the teams’ championship thanks to Strauven and Przyrowski’s second place. Monteiro and Kanthan step onto the rookie podium with their Campos Racing cars. Costa and Ryba score points
It was a dream weekend for Thomas Strauven at the Algarve International Circuit, host of the third round of the 2025 F4 Spain season. The Belgian driver from Griffin Core by Campos dominated the Portuguese event, claiming three wins to bring his total to four this year. He not only took the championship lead but also pulled away in the standings. His teammate Jan Przyrowski also showed immense potential, which he converted into a second-place finish. Matúš Ryba added more points to his tally. Among the Campos Racing drivers, Noah Monteiro climbed onto the rookie podium on home soil, joined by Vivek Kanthan, who also celebrated a podium result. Brazil’s Miguel Costa finished in the points.
In Saturday morning’s free practice, Strauven and Przyrowski set the pace with lap times of 1m45.295s and 1m45.341s, respectively. It was a strong showing across the board, with Kanthan, Costa, and Ryba also among the top ten. Later at midday, the first qualifying session took place, setting the grid for that afternoon’s race. Strauven posted a lap of 1m45.063s mid-session, narrowly beating Przyrowski by just fourteen thousandths. Strauven claimed pole position and the two bonus points. Monteiro qualified fourth with a 1m45.417s lap, but a five-place grid penalty relegated him to eighth. Kanthan completed the top ten with a time of 1m45.742s. Ryba would start from 12th, while Costa lined up 17th.
With track temperatures exceeding 43ºC at the start of the afternoon race, Strauven held the lead when the lights went out. Przyrowski, however, was caught off guard by Ean Eyckmans, who snatched second place. Przyrowski found himself locked in a four-car battle in the opening laps— not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, Monteiro was involved in contact on the first lap and lost several places. Przyrowski, chasing down Eyckmans, overtook him on lap five just before the safety car came out. One lap after the restart, Przyrowski went straight on while defending in sector two and retired. Despite another safety car on lap 11, Strauven—who also set the fastest lap to earn an extra point—remained unshaken and controlled Eyckmans through the restarts. After 16 laps, Strauven crossed the line as the winner. In a thrilling finale, Kanthan secured the final rookie podium spot and finished sixth overall, just ahead of Monteiro. Ryba grabbed points with a ninth-place finish, while Costa dropped back in the closing stages to finish 18th.
Sunday began with the second qualifying session early in the morning. Following a similar script to the previous day, the Griffin Core by Campos drivers dominated again, this time with Przyrowski claiming pole and two bonus points with a lap of 1m44.591s. Strauven followed with a 1m44.815s lap. Costa put in an excellent performance to take fourth with a 1m44.919s time in his Campos Racing car, two places ahead of Monteiro, who was sixth with a 1m45.130s lap. Ryba and Kanthan set the eighth and ninth fastest times, respectively, promising a strong showing in Race 3.
But first came Race 2, a short 25-minute sprint race with a grid based on the fastest laps from Race 1. Once again, Strauven and Przyrowski locked out the front row for Griffin Core by Campos. Monteiro was set to start from fourth, but the Portuguese driver stalled at the lights. At the front, Strauven led after the opening lap, while Przyrowski dropped to third behind Eyckmans. The opening laps were also disastrous for Kanthan and Ryba, with the American retiring due to suspension damage and the Slovak forced to pit. Following a safety car period, Strauven maintained his lead on lap 6, while Przyrowski fought hard against Eyckmans and René Lammers. His wheel-to-wheel duel with the Dutchman after the second safety car saw contact between the two, and the battle took its toll on Przyrowski’s car and tyres, causing him to drop down the order. Unfazed, Strauven crossed the line first again after 14 laps, once more taking the fastest lap. Monteiro, who had dropped to the back, mounted a superb recovery drive to finish tenth and fourth among the rookies, two places ahead of Costa. Przyrowski and Ryba ended up well down the order after their eventful races.
Race 3, the final race of the third meeting, was just as dramatic. When the lights went out, Eyckmans overtook both Griffin Core by Campos drivers. But it was a long race, and neither Przyrowski nor Strauven was about to give up. Despite building a 1.5-second gap by lap 3, Eyckmans was reeled in, and on lap 9, Przyrowski overtook him around the outside at the end of the straight, followed by Strauven a corner later. Costa was running eighth at the time, enjoying a tight battle with Lammers. But the fight for victory was far from over. Strauven attacked and snatched the lead from Przyrowski with seven laps to go. From there, he never looked back. Strauven again set the fastest lap and crossed the finish line as the winner for a third consecutive time, with Przyrowski right behind in second. Monteiro finished fifth overall and second among the rookies, while Costa was fourth in the rookie standings and ninth overall. Kanthan rounded out the points in tenth place. Ryba finished 17th this time.
As the championship approaches its midway point, Strauven leads the standings with 170 points, 58 ahead of his closest rival, Lammers. Przyrowski sits third with 110 points, just two behind the Dutchman. Monteiro is seventh overall and second among the rookies with 46 points, with Kanthan completing the top ten. In the team standings, Griffin Core by Campos extends its lead with 229 points, 83 clear of second place. Campos Racing holds fourth.
The fourth round of the championship is scheduled to take place at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in just two weeks.
Thomas Strauven (Griffin Core by Campos Driver in F4 Spain): “What a weekend! Here in Portimão for the F4 Spain Championship, I managed to win all three races – a clean sweep! I’m incredibly proud of the team and our performance. With these results, I’m now leading the championship. I’m really excited for what’s to come. Let’s keep pushing!”
Noah Monteiro (Campos Racing Driver in F4 Spain): “We didn’t get the results we were hoping for, but overall, we’re satisfied with the pace and the progress we made throughout the weekend and in our work at home.”
