Round 3 Feature Race Thoughts from the Top 3

FIA Formula 3: Santiago Ramos, F3 race winner here in Imola. How does that sound?

Ramos: Quite good. I was hoping to hear that last year but happy we finally made it.

FIA Formula 3: Does it feel like revenge for what happened last season?

Ramos: Not revenge, but I think I had it well deserved last year.

FIA Formula 3: Looking at the race today. It was a tough one, you had to fight for it from P2 on the grid. How was it from the car?

Ramos: I think it was tough. I knew the TRIDENT cars had really good pace. Rafa was fastest in Free Practice and Qualifying, also I saw Noah yesterday had good pace. So, I knew that I just had to manage with experience I have from the extra year and try to manage the race better in terms of tyre degradation, and when to push, when to wait and I think that at the end is what got us the small advantage over them and I am quite happy with it.

FIA Formula 3: How confident were you that you were going to catch Rafa again after he passed you and you could keep the position?

Ramos: I was quite confident. I knew he was going to push hard on the first lap to try to keep me out of the DRS, so I also had to push hard. Then after that, I tried to keep the pace, I tried not to attack him too much to not lose time to the cars behind, and just have a gap and just fight later, and that’s what I did. I knew at the end that the pace was quite equal, so I just had to wait for him to have more degradation than him and then make the move.

FIA Formula 3: We know you are quite good around this circuit based on this year and in 2024. But next up is Monaco, how much of a confidence boost is today’s result?

Ramos: I think it is definitely a big confidence boost. I have driven there in 2024, also 2022 FRECA. I know the track, last year we made some mistakes, we learned from them and I am sure that with the momentum we have from this race we are going to be able to maximise the result and score some good points.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations for today. Noah Stromsted, P2 today after starting in third. It was a race where you had to fight for the podium, after dropping back at the start before making your way through the field to P2.

Noah Stromsted: We have to check what happened at the start because I lost two positions. From there, I had to fight my way back, and it was quite difficult. I had to use my tyres quite a lot to get those overtakes done, and to escape from the DRS, to pull out one second from the car behind. In the end, the last few laps I still had good pace, so I think I managed the tyres very well, and the car felt very good to drive. It’s good points, but it hurts a bit.

FIA Formula 3: What learnings can you take from this weekend that can serve you in Monaco?

Stromsted: They are very different tracks, but every weekend I learn more about the car and the tyres. Here we have been very quick in both races, also in the Sprint Race yesterday, so that’s something I will take with me to Monaco and Barcelona. In Qualifying, I have a bit of work to do, I think Rafa is a step ahead of me there, so that’s my main target.

FIA Formula 3: Well done today. Rafael, P3 after starting from pole position is definitely not what you would have wanted. But how was it from the car?

Rafael Câmara: A tough race. I struggled a bit with the tyres. I tried to break the DRS but maybe I pushed a bit too much and the tyres were not alive in the end. But anyway, it was a good result, P3, scoring points in the Championship is what is important. It’s always nice to win the race but the main goal is the Championship.

FIA Formula 3: The first time Santiago passed you, we heard your team telling you on the radio to try to stay within DRS range. Do you think this is where you hurt the tyres?

Câmara: No, not really. I just think I was too confident I could break the DRS and I pushed too much on the tyres. After, I got the drop, and after you drop the tyres, you lose the grip, so he did a good job, and something to learn for next time.

FIA Formula 3: Where you worried at the end of the race that Tuukka Taponen behind you was going to challenge you for the final spot on the podium?

Câmara: When Noah passed me, a bit, yes. But then I saw he wasn’t catching me that much and I knew there wasn’t many laps left so I was quite calm.

FIA Formula 3: Overall, another strong weekend with three Pole Positions in a row. So, what can we expect from you in Monaco?

Câmara: I think just try to keep the momentum. In the end it was a positive weekend, P1 in Practice, and P1 in Qualifying and also in the races we had good pace. So, just keep focused on the basics, do things how we’ve been doing them and we can go to Monaco and fight for pole.

FIA Formula 3: Thank you, well done for today.