Noah Stromsted came into his second campaign in FIA Formula 3 with Trident in 2026 aiming for nothing less than the title, securing victories and podiums along the way but ultimately falling short of the ultimate prize. Reflecting on the year, the Dane admits the campaign was a mix of highs and lows, yet he firmly believes he made clear improvements across the board compared to his rookie season in 2025.
"I think the start of the season there were ups and downs," Stromsted said. "In the second half of the season there have been quite a few things out of our control which has affected our season quite a lot. So I've not had the results I had been hoping for this season."
With the crash in the Sprint Race compromised the result a bit there. Otherwise, I think a double podium would have been also very likely.
Despite the final standings, the Trident driver is adamant that his driving progressed significantly. When the machine and circumstances aligned, the raw speed was undeniable. Pointing to Austria, Stromsted recalled a strong qualifying performance backed by mega pace in both the Sprint and the Feature Race, proving that on their good days, the package was remarkably quick. Unfortunately, things did not always run smoothly, with errors and external events getting in the way.
Some setbacks came from his own driving, as Stromsted openly confessed. In Australia, a promising run toward a P3 finish in the Feature Race was undone by a penalty. Monaco brought further penalties across both races, which the driver attributed to being a bit too aggressive at the start. Yet, he also addressed areas of personal growth, noting that after needing to work on qualifying last year and at the beginning of 2026, his progression as the season went on was undeniable.
One constant strength that continued to click for him throughout the races was tyre management, alongside a sharp instinct for when to push and when to take it easy. That exact racecraft shone brightest at the Red Bull Ring, which easily stands out as his moment of the year. In a race where rivals peaked and faded, Stromsted mastered the conditions from start to finish.
"Austria Feature Race - the pace that we came was really strong from the start to finish," Stromsted said. "With the crash in the Sprint Race compromised the result a bit there. Otherwise, I think a double podium would have been also very likely."
