The Norwegian Noah Stromsted will drop three places on the grid for both races of the second round of the 2026 Formula 3 season, scheduled at the Monaco Circuit in Monte Carlo. According to FIA stewards, the Trident driver hindered one of his rivals during Friday’s qualifying, which determined the starting positions for the two races.
In a group activity, Stromsted was among the first batch of drivers to head out on track and, according to the stewards, blocked Tuukka Taponen in turns 3 and 4, hindering the MP Motorsport rival who was on a fast lap at that moment. The Norwegian was penalized under article 31.6 of the Formula 3 regulations.
As a result, Stromsted loses three positions on the weekend’s two-race grid. Thus, the driver drops from third to sixth on the Sprint grid, which takes into account an inversion of the top 12 in qualifying, and falls from tenth to thirteenth on the starting grid for the main race, scheduled for the early hours of Sunday.
The Sprint penalty benefits Brazilian Pedro Clerot, who would originally have lined up fourth, and now starts third. The Rodin Motorsport driver remains ninth on the grid for the main race.
Formula 3 returns to the track on Saturday, starting at 5:45 a.m., for the Sprint race. The main event takes place on Sunday, starting at 2:55 a.m.
