Round 8 Post-Feature Race Thoughts of the Top Three

FIA Formula 3: Nicola Lacorte, F3 Feature Race winner at Monza, how does that sound?

Nicola Lacorte: It sounds crazy, especially because it's here in Monza, at my home race. So it feels even more special. But I expected to have a really good result today. Of course, winning is something even more special. So it's gratifying.

FIA Formula 3: Let's talk about the race, you started from P3, and then the start was not that great if memory serves.

Lacorte: I mean, the launch was really good. I couldn't manage to fight Freddie and Kanato, because T1 is very tight, and I tried to bring the car to the end. I knew it was going to be a long race. So I just put myself behind, managed, got overtaken if it was needed, and then overtook back. And I think it was the perfect strategy. Combined with the management on the tyres, there was quite a lot of graining. I didn't expect it to be that early, but I managed to clean it quite quickly to get rid of it. It was good at the end.

FIA Formula 3: When you got into the lead, how difficult was it to actually keep it and also, when it was the final lap towards the chequered flag, what went through your mind?

Lacorte: So when I got into the lead, I thought it was going to be just for a couple of laps, because the tow and the DRS here is very strong. But actually, I kept it for quite a long time. When it was a Safety Car, I cooled down a bit, and I started to think. It was a bit of a problem, because you shouldn't think at this point of the race. Then I got back in the mindset, and I was just going corner by corner, looking at how to get more and more of a gap with good exits. When I saw the chequered flag, I just had no words. I screamed in the helmet, opened the radio and then after a couple of corners, I couldn't speak. So of course, it's a great emotion. I just want to keep this momentum up I started in Hungary, and it's just getting better now.

FIA Formula 3: What does it mean for you to give DAMS their first ever Feature Race win?

Lacorte: I think they deserve it a lot, because we came here with no experience two years ago. I wasn't ready for F3. I knew it. The team struggled a bit. It was normal. I expected it. They trusted in me, and I trusted in them, and we just built the performance of today, race by race, lap by lap. I think it just proves how strong we are, and that we can challenge the more experienced teams in this category.

FIA Formula 3: There's one final round next week at Madrid, at a new track, with more points to grab. Two Qualifying sessions, two Feature Races, and one Sprint. What's the objective? How are you going to approach that weekend?

Lacorte: Same as always. Like I started this weekend, just be fast in Practice, be fast in the quali, and then see how it goes. It has to be corner by corner, lap by lap, session by session. I'll just keep the same mindset. It was tough testing for us in Madrid, so we just need to work more and get the best out of it. I'm sure we can get good satisfaction again.

FIA Formula 3: Well, massive congratulations on today's result. Tuukka Tappanen, P2 in today's Feature Race. Back on the podium, some strong points. Dare I say finally?

Tuukka Taponen: Yes, you can say finally. It's been a very tough year, especially at the beginning of the season. A few rounds ago we found some pace and since that we have been fighting at the front. Luck has not been on our side. Three punctures in two races has ruined a lot of points. But finally, starting from P8 and finishing in P2 is a very good result. The team is really deserving that. We have been fighting with the result to get the result and finally we get it.

FIA Formula 3: Like you said, from P8 on the grid to P2 at the flag. It was very hectic everywhere, but especially at the front. How did you manage that?

Taponen: It was quite hectic. I was going forward all the time. It was quite good for me with the fights. Just at the end we started to get that front graining. It was very difficult to get close to the car in front. We didn't have the DRS because there was a yellow flag in Turn 1. It didn't really help to fight for the win, but I have to be happy for P2 as well.

FIA Formula 3: Now there is one final round and it is going to be a super-sized one at Madrid. At a new track, obviously F3 has had the privilege to be testing there a couple of weeks ago. What are you expecting from that final round of the season?

Taponen: Let's hope that it will be clean in Qualifying and we can drive a decent session. I think it's super important in Madrid because overtaking is very difficult.

FIA Formula 3: What is the target to conclude 2026?

Taponen: The objective is to keep going with this momentum that we have had for a few rounds already. And then convert it to good results.

FIA Formula 3: Thank you very much, good job today. Taito Kato, P3 in today's Feature Race here at Monza. Second podium, back-to-back after yesterday's win. What an amazing result for you this weekend.

Taito Kato: Yeah, really strong weekend overall. I'm happy for me and the team. Just massive thanks to the team. ART were preparing quite a lot. just using the simulator and making sure we had a good setup. We found it, and today's race was much more tough compared to yesterday. On pure pace, we were losing a little bit compared to the two guys in front but still managed it. Back-to-back races on the podium. Still happy with the result with strong points in the back. I can't wait for the next round.

FIA Formula 3: You've mentioned it being a tough race. It looked fun from the outside but obviously it must have been really difficult from inside the car. How tricky was it to stay out of trouble?

Kato: Yeah, obviously yesterday was the same. Quite chaotic overall in the race. Three wide on the straight, four wide on the straight. But I was always staying calm inside the car. Just staying focused, saving the tyres because today was a bit cooler temperature-wise and the issue was the graining for front. I think everyone had massive graining as well. So I think I should have been tyre-saving more in the beginning. But still managed it. So happy with the result.

FIA Formula 3: It's an amazing result for you and ART here in Monza. There's no rest, we're going straight to Madrid where it's going to be a very tough weekend again. A new track that you discovered with testing, but with two qualifying sessions and then two Feature Races and a Sprint Race. How are you going to go into the weekend?

Kato: I think we were able to do good testing in Madrid. We were fighting at the front. So we have confidence with the car. And also, I think it's a good opportunity to gain points in the two Feature Races and one Sprint Race. So, yes, no rest time. But we will do the maximum performance for Madrid.

FIA Formula 3: Thank you very much, congratulations.