Ivan Domingues wins the Spanish GP
“I share this victory with all Portuguese people”
12 years after the last Portuguese victory in the FIA Formula 3 World Championship, António Félix da Costa, Ivan Domingues, a young man from Leiria, won the Sprint Race of the Spanish Grand Prix this morning.
The national anthem played at the Catalunya circuit, after a brilliant race in which the 19-year-old rookie, starting in 6th place, led from the third corner.
In what was only the fifth F3 Grand Prix of his career, while adapting to a new car and a new category, Ivan Domingues demonstrated his talent clearly: an excellent start immediately put him in the running for the front places. Then, the usual confusion in the field allowed him to attack the first place, which was never in doubt throughout the 21 laps, as he always kept his main pursuer, Noah Stromsted (Trident), at a distance where he was never even able to attempt an overtaking move. The Portuguese driver would set the fastest lap twice and finished even more calmly when Stromsted, towards the end, could not avoid going off the track.
As a rookie in FRECA (Formula Regional Europe by Alpine), Ivan Domingues had already tasted the podium, but in Barcelona, he achieved the most important victory of his career, and one of the most important moments in Portuguese motorsport in recent years.
“I always said that my dream was to hear the National Anthem and see our flag raised on the highest step of the podium. I share this victory with all Portuguese people, and especially with my family, my team and all those who have been following me. I am extremely proud to be Brazilian; we have a country of great people who can and deserve a lot. I share this victory with everyone, with great happiness, but also with great humility, because I want to continue evolving and I want more”, says Ivan Domingues. “We knew that the beginning of the season would be very difficult, but we had to work and be resilient, to continue growing, in such a competitive category. We will maintain this focus, work and always seek to honour the shield that I carry on my helmet; if possible, even with another good result in tomorrow’s race”, he concludes.
The schedule for the Spanish Grand Prix, in Formula 3, continues this Sunday, with the Feature Race (7:30 am in Lisbon).
About Ivan Domingues
Ivan Domingues (Leiria, 5/5/2006) started karting, inspired by his father and brother, when he was just 8 years old. At the age of 9, he participated in the first Portuguese championship. He won the Brazilian Kart Cup and was National Vice-Champion in 2017, 2018 and 2019. At the age of 14, he moved to Italy to professionalise his training and make the leap to Formula 4. Last season, in 2024, already in FRECA (Formula Regional Europe by Alpine), he stood out as one of the best rookies (two podiums and best rookie in 3 races). In 2025, he made the jump to the FIA Formula 3 Championship, one of the main antechambers of Formula 1, to complete the full season with the prestigious Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR), thus becoming the first Portuguese in the category in 12 years. His inspirations are Ayrton Senna and Max Verstappen. In addition to cars, he is passionate about sports and animals.
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