How PREMA boss Rosin managed a triple title tilt

It’s been an exhausting season in PREMA Racing’s home at Grisignano di Zocco, in the Italian province of Vicenza. For all of the success, the records shattered, and the titles won, it’s been both mentally and physically draining for Rene Roisin and his team. The upkeep of three title challenges and the maintenance of team harmony is a tricky balancing act, one which Roisin joked: “was quite hard.”

Part of maintaining that harmony, Rosin says, is down to his refusal to issue team orders, which could hamper their development and hamstring their ability to race at 100% capacity, for the benefit of the team. It is this type of ethic which has seen all three grow and mature throughout the campaign – they have been allowed to make their own mistakes and fight their own battles, with the team’s full support.

But, with all three drivers going for the Championship, how do you stop tensions from boiling over? “We told them they needed to be clever,” Rosin asserted. “I said that they were mature enough to do a good job - I wouldn't want to say anything else.

“When they close the visor, everybody is fighting against each other. We never gave any team orders, everybody was free to race. The only thing that I say to them - even before Race 1 in Sochi, when we started 1-2-3 - is that we want a fair battle. We would not give out team orders though.

“We have done some work behind the scenes, and we work really hard with the drivers to make sure that they understand that yes, they need to think about themselves, but they also need to think about the team. When they think about the team, they bring home the most amount of points, which at the end of the day, is a benefit for themselves as well.”

It’s a tactic that has worked almost unequivocally in 2019. There have been very few coming togethers or retirements, and just one crash between teammates, when Robert Shwartzman collided with Marcus Armstrong in Spa and admittedly cost them the win. Ultimately though, their near-constant presence in the top three and lack of mistakes won them the title.

Their command of the Championship showed as Robert Shwartzman, Marcus Armstrong and Jehan Daruvala secured 1-2-3 in the standings and eight wins between them. While, there was not one single weekend across the campaign where they didn’t have at least one racer on the podium.

“I am really, really proud that we have been able to do the job with our three drivers,” Roisin elated. “At the moment, of course everybody is speaking about Robert because he won the Championship. But, both Jehan and Marcus, were a success.

“Without them, we would not be where we are now. Without them, I would say, that even Robert wouldn't be where he is. It is a real team job. We need to be proud of the job that everybody has done.”

While the domination displayed by his three highly rated drivers will steal the headlines, Rosin stated that it was the sum of the team’s parts, which seized them the crown. The Italians have been the most consistent on the grid, suffering very few issues with speed, reliability or adaptability.

He continued: “The team championship that we achieved in the terrible weekend of Spa, was, from a team point of view, an amazing result.

“In Sochi, having celebrated the Team Championship and having secured 1-2-3 for the Drivers’ Championship, we could not have asked for anything better. I am extremely grateful to all of the drivers, all of the engineers and all of the mechanics, who have all worked really hard over the winter to get ready for the season.

“There have been some moments where we have made some small mistakes, and some drivers that have made some small mistakes, but we are always trying to improve and do a better job. That is why we are where we are."

Attention will soon switch to the 2020 Championship, where his side will be gunned by this year’s experience of F3, but back on a level playing field with the rest of the roster. The Italian side are already exploring their options for the new season, with Shwartzman, Armstrong and Daruvala all potentially moving on from the category.

At the beginning of 2019, it was their explosive pace which set the precedent, with no other team adapting to the new car and the new Championship like the Italians. However, as the season grew older, teams began to catch up and it was consistency which continued to stretch their lead.

For 2020, Rosin is expecting an even sterner test from his rivals, saying: “Next season is a new challenge, but we have experienced that already in the past. We are now looking at what is the best compromise and who are the best drivers in the scenario. We hope to promote some drivers from our other junior categories, but we are also looking at drivers who are currently participating in the Formula 3 Championship.

“Hopefully, after post-season testing in Valencia, we will be able to see what is the best possible line-up that we could have. The competition next year will be high, because nobody will sit down. I don't expect ART and Hitech to give us an easy time. They will fight harder, because this year, they have been beaten and then in 2020 we will start from zero again.

“I think that now we need to relax a bit, to enjoy the moment that we are having, and the achievement of the Championship. The next step of course is Macau, which will be another challenge. For now, the focus is on that race and we are looking forward to it.”