Red Bull Ring record holder Collet returning to Spielberg with an improved mindset and approach

After experiencing one of his “worst days in racing,” on Saturday in Le Castellet last time out, Caio Collet says he’s arrived at the Red Bull Ring “really relaxed and confident” thanks to his podium recovery in Race 3.

Despite Qualifying as high as fifth, the MP Motorsport driver struggled for pace in the opening race of Round 2 and dropped out of the top 10, before retiring from the second event with mechanical issues - results that Collet admits dented his confidence.

But the Brazilian believes he’s back to his best after he bounced back on the Sunday with a drive from fifth to third for his second podium in Formula 3.

“It was really important,” said Collet on the recovery. “I was really in a bad place on the Saturday after the two races and I think that if I had not taken the podium and hadn’t finished well, then it would have been hard to come here with confidence.

“On Sunday, I had to have a good race and I had to get a podium to regain confidence, to know in my head that I can fight for wins and podiums. It was really important for this weekend.

“I gained a lot of confidence back. I have looked back and reflected on Saturday, and I think that I had the wrong mindset for Race 1, whereas on Sunday everything was clearer in terms of what I had to do. Because of the result, I could relax after the race and not think about it. I am now really relaxed and confident coming here that I can do a good job.”

The P3 placing at Le Castellet has Collet sitting seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, arriving at a circuit where he enjoyed plenty of success in pre-season.

Collet broke the F3 Red Bull Ring track record during the tests earlier this year and believes he’s returning as a stronger, more well-rounded racer.

“My mindset and the way I approach things have improved,” he continued. “In testing, you have a lot of laps, with six sets of tyres and two days, whereas in Qualifying you have just one lap to deliver. In this area, I can improve a lot, but I am really confident that we can do that here.

“I really like the track. We were quick here in pre-season and adapted well to the track. On both days I was always in the top five. It’s a track that I like, and I think that I have improved since we were here before. So have other teams, but I am really confident, and I think we can do a good job here.

“We took a good step forward in Qualifying from Barcelona to Paul Ricard and I think that we can do another step here.”