Tim Tramnitz on 2025 so far, embracing the F3 challenge, and working with MP Motorsport

After finishing his rookie Formula 3 campaign ninth in the Championship, Tim Tramnitz returned this season as the highest-placed driver from 2024, with the goal of winning the title.

Looking through the first half of 2025 on paper, the MP Motorsport driver has put himself in a strong position to do so, as he currently sits third in the Standings with 70 points – trailing leader Rafael Câmara by 35 points.

The German driver has already added a second F3 victory to his record, with a win in the Imola Sprint Race, and fight back from P13 on the grid to finish third in the Sakhir Feature.

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While that makes for favourable reading, Tramnitz is not completely happy, and prior to the Monte Carlo weekend getting underway, he explained why.

“I think looking at where we are right now, I would say one half of me is fine with it and another half is not fully happy,” he said.

“Looking at our race pace, we are always quite quick and competitive in the races, but I always have to move up the field which shows the weakness at the moment.

“The main thing to improve is Qualifying. In Bahrain, it was my fault, I made a mistake and lost quite a lot of time due to the that and in Imola, we were in the reverse grid front row again but that's not what we want.”

Tramnitz’s has qualified in the top five just once so far this season, and that came at the opening round in Melbourne.

Since then, he was P13 in Bahrain, P11 in Imola, P6 overall in Monte Carlo and P10 in Barcelona. But in each Feature Race, he gained at least one position.

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In fact, the only two races where Tramnitz has not scored points were the Melbourne Sprint in which he retired early with an issue, and at the same race in Barcelona, but only after he was involved in a first lap collision.

The 20-year-old gave his view on why they are not where they want to be over one lap.

“It looks like we were a bit on the aggressive side in terms of car setup,” said Tramnitz. “I think for us, it's important to find the right balance with the car, which is still fast, but also, it's still good to drive.

“But also, I think in Qualifying, the mental side is also very important, and maybe it's something I also have to work on, to be there especially on the last run, to bring it all together.”

Tramnitz explained that his car had a lot of oversteer, and while that usually makes things faster, it is something he has not been very comfortable with just yet.

But these are all things the German has said to MP with whom he shares a strong relationship having chosen to return for a second season, not only in F3, but also with the Dutch outfit.

Tramnitz talked through the process that went into choosing what to do in 2025. This included looking into graduating to Formula 2, before ultimately deciding on the path he felt was best for him.

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“I mean of course you are looking at future options, and MP is also doing a very good job in F2,” he said. “But looking at the situation with the new car, they were fast last year with the new F2 car, and we assumed they'd do a good job with the new F3 car, because it's going in a similar direction.

“Last year, I felt good in the team, and that is still the case. I feel good in the environment and also, I really feel like MP are seeing that there is potential this year to fight for the title.

“The motivation is there, and the team also did a good job improving the car compared to last year. I feel so good in the environment, and of course you are also looking into what might happen in 2026.”

Tramnitz though was not only assessing his options for 2025, but he was also evaluating his own performances from 2024, looking at where he could be better.

“There were some things that I feel I didn't handle well enough, things that this season are a bit different,” he said. “From rewatching last season, I said to myself that was not the cleverest move I did there, or Qualifying, the tactics were not ideal.”

The Red Bull junior believes a lot of his mistakes last season where down to a lack of experience, as well as how he approached things mentally.

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As a result, Tramnitz has changed his thought process slightly this year, and is choosing to embrace the difficulties that come with racing in Formula 3.

“I think honestly F3 is one of the most difficult categories,” he said. “You have 30 cars and everyone has the same goal, to reach F1.

“I feel like you need to be mentally prepared for what is to come and that’s something that is helpful for this year. I think the most important thing when you get to F3 is not to be surprised.

“Don't be surprised by how messy it can be, how many things can happen, how aggressive everyone is, and how much everyone is pushing. I actually think you kind of need to like it, you need to enjoy it, instead of being afraid of something.

“I feel if you go into it and you enjoy the battles, and the racing you experience, it's the best thing you can do. It's pretty much what I am doing this year, even more than last year. I am taking it as a joy to fight my way through the field, to overtake people. A lot of results are made mentally, in all Championships, none more so than F3.”

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This is an approach that has come from not only looking within himself but also from talking to people within Red Bull, with them having helped Tramnitz decide what was best for him in 2025.

He talked through the kind of support he gets from those within the team, something he values as “they are always full of ideas, and they can give you really good feedback, because they know what you need to get to F1”.

This is why a big part of Tramnitz’s motivation in 2025 is not only about repaying Red Bull’s faith in him, but to prove to them what he can do, with an eye on getting to Formula 1 one day.

“I think how Red Bull manage things is really interesting,” he said. “In terms of how they work on the junior drivers, I think it's very different compared to other academies. They have a lot of tools, they have a lot of simulators for the academy, which is so helpful.

“You work with so many experienced people and I feel like from every conversation you have with people from Red Bull, you can always take something away from it.

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“I think now what is important is for me is to show Red Bull that I am capable of handling the pressure, being in the top three in the Championship, being in the title fight and winning races.

“But for me personally, my target is clear, to fight for the title and to come out on top in the end.”