100th Round for Formula 3 where it all started

Gabriele Mini leads the way of the 2024 standings heading into F3 100. Credit: Eric Alonso via Getty Images

FIA Formula 3 heads to the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya for round 5 of the 2024 season and the 100th round of the entire championship history.

The Spanish circuit will play host to the 100th round of FIA Formula 3 this weekend, which is quite the story as this was where the very first round of Formula 3 took place, back in May 2019.

Formula 3 will visit Spain ahead of five rounds in the next six weeks. Gabriele Mini comes into the round with the championship lead but his points is very narrow.

Circuit Preview - Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya

To the birthplace of Formula 3 and the place of mid-season testing in 2024 as the series will visit the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya for the second time this season.

There have been many moments and many winners over the years when the series has visited the circuit. Circuit-Barcelona Catalunya has appeared on the Formula 3 calendar for every year of the competition's existence - making it the most fairy-tale place for round 100.

Last year in Formula 3, it was a magical moment for home hero and home team as Josep 'Pepe' Maria Marti reigned supreme by taking pole position on the Friday and converting it into feature race glory on the Sunday.

In Saturday's sprint race, it would be Zak O'Sullivan who would take victory for Prema. It would be a British 1-2 as Luke Browning came home in second place, while Leonardo Fornaroli ended third for Trident.

In the feature race, Marti won and got the fastest lap in a superb drive from him. He finished ahead of Franco Colapinto of MP Motorsport and Prema's Dino Beganovic were second and third respectively.

However, in 2024 the driver will race around a circuit that underwent significant changes in 2023. The 16-cornered layout became 14, losing the chicane, which made turns 14 and 15. That has now gone with turn 13 being a durable curve. This is in an attempt to make the track quicker and aid closer racing.

The track is made up of 4.657km with 2 DRS zones into turns 1 and 10. Overtaking opportunities will be plenty within the sprint and feature races. The sprint race will last 21 laps, while the feature race will last 25 laps

Memorable 100 - A look back of how we got here

After Formula 3 was formed in 2019 from the old GP3 series, excitement was around as the newly formed paddock prepared for round 1 at the very circuit of this weekend's venue - Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya.

Robert Shwartzman winning the inaugural championship back in 2019.

This is only the sixth season of the modernisation of this great championship. It has witnessed Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson race in the championship. All four of them have since gone on to race in a Formula One Grand Prix.

Shwartzman, Piastri, Dennis Hauger, Victor Martins and Gabriel Bortoleto are the five champions so far in the formula 3 history books, a we are awaiting to see who will be the sixth this year.

There have been so many great races and great battles with excellent lead commentaries from Alex Jacques, Harry Benjamin and & Chris McCarthy. With many memories to be made across the weekend, there is every reason for fans to feel excited about the next 100.  

Last time out: Round 4 - Monaco

Round 4 in Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco, was the previous round of this year's Formula 3 Championship. It would be just the second visit to Monte Carlo for the series after the first visit to the circuit in 2023.

Gabriele Mini shone in 2023 as he won the feature race and took pole position. He would replicate the same results in 2024 in what was a crazy weekend of action.

In the sprint race, Nikola Tsolov would take victory to become the first Bulgarian to take a podium and victory in GP3 and Formula 3 history ahead of TimTramnitz and Laurens Van Hoepen, who were second and third respectively.

The Monaco sprint saw eight retirements across the race with five drivers eliminated on the opening lap in a pile up. Arvid Lindblad had squeezed out Christian Mansell and spun as he made contact with Dufek clipping the Prema.

Mansell had no where to go and was out, so too was Alex Dunne and Cian Shields, who both ran into the back of Mansell sending themselves both out of the race.

Mini would win the feature race in impressive fashion to take the championship lead going into the event. Christian Mansell came home in second place with Luke Browning completing the three on the podium.

Memorable weekend awaits in Spain

A special landmark of 100 rounds this weekend, where it all began in Barcelona and the 30 drivers will want to write their names in the history books when Formula 3 reflects on this event years down the line.

Matias Zagazeta makes a return to the series after missing Monaco due to appendicitis. Will he repeat what Carlos Sainz did in Formula 1 earlier on in 2024.

Free Practice commences the weekend's action on Friday.

2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship: Round 5 - Spain session times

Track times

• Free Practice 21/06: 09:55-10:40
• Qualifying 21/06: 15:00-15:30
• Sprint Race 22/06: 10:40-11:20
• Feature Race 23/06: 10:05-10:50

UK times

• Free Practice 21/06: 08:55-09:40
• Qualifying 21/06: 14:00-14:30
• Sprint Race 22/06: 09:40-10:20
• Feature Race 23/06: 09:05-09:50

Brandon Whiteside
​Writer - F1 journal