Round 8 Post Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Welcome everyone to today's FIA Formula 3 press conference following the Sprint Race here at Monza. Joining us in third place from Van Amersfoort Racing is Hiyu Yamakoshi. In second place from TRIDENT is Freddie Slater. Also joining us from ART Grand Prix, having captured his first FIA Formula 3 win, is Taito Kato. Taito, congratulations on your first FIA Formula 3 win. How does that feel?

Taito Kato: It feels amazing. It is incredible. I am speechless, to be honest, after starting from P9. I knew there would be good opportunities to overtake here at Monza. The car was amazing throughout the race and really enjoyable to drive. A massive thank you to my team because the car was incredible. We struggled a little with performance over the last couple of races, so I am very happy with this result.

FIA Formula 3: There were a few Safety Cars today. How were you able to execute with so much happening around you?

Kato: I saw the chaos in front, especially at the beginning when cars were three or four wide on the straight. I stayed calm throughout the race, avoided incidents and managed the tyres. The pace looked really good and I felt confident throughout, so I always stayed calm inside the car.

FIA Formula 3: You mentioned staying calm inside the car. Can you take us through the final laps? It did not look as though you put a foot wrong.

Kato: The pace was good and the car was incredible. I knew that if I did not make a mistake, I could win the race. That was why I stayed focused.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations on the victory.

Kato: Thank you.

FIA Formula 3: Freddie, congratulations. That is your eighth podium of the season. You went from P12 to P2. Tell us how you were able to do it.

Freddie Slater: It was a pretty chaotic race. During the first few laps there were not many opportunities and I think I only gained one or two positions. Then the momentum kept going. I knew the key to racing at Monza was to keep moving forward because, as soon as you go backwards, it is very difficult to reset. A lot of people made mistakes and there were several incidents ahead. I knew I needed to bide my time because it was a long race and the tow and DRS are so powerful. I used that to my advantage and came through the field. It was a very positive race from my side, and the team gave me an amazing car. It is one I will remember for a long time because it was good fun.

FIA Formula 3: You made some incredible moves, especially into the first chicane. Can you take us through some of those? There was one where you were on the grass.

Slater: That was not ideal. I did not fancy mowing the grass at Monza. We were four wide and the slipstream was so powerful that all three of us were arriving together, so it was always going to happen. It probably looked spectacular on television, but in the car it felt manageable. When you are four wide, nobody knows exactly where everyone else is. I tried to get back onto the track, managed to do so and then picked the move off at the end to come away with P2.

FIA Formula 3: You have also extended your lead in the Drivers' Championship. What is your mindset heading into Sunday's Feature Race?

Slater: It is the same approach: try to score as many points as possible in every race, achieve a good result and execute as we have done all year. Another podium is special. We have a very good team behind me that gives me a car with which I can be consistent. It is now my job to execute and pick up the pieces.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations, Freddie. Great drive . FIA Formula 3: Hiyu, another great drive and your third podium of the season. How does this one feel?

Hiyu Yamakoshi: It feels like a progression from fourth to third. I had a difficult time, but the goal before the start was to maintain position and fight at the front. In the end, the team and I managed it quite well. From the first round, I felt I did not have as much pace as others, so I tried to maximise what I had. This podium is special, particularly because of how difficult the pace was and how we managed the race.

FIA Formula 3: Like Freddie and Taito, you had to fight through the field. How challenging was it to navigate everything that was happening?

Yamakoshi: This time I was thinking a lot, although I also had good luck and was able to drive through much of what happened. We had considered many options and simulations about what could happen and how much pace we would have. The preparation through those simulations helped us achieve this result.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations on P3.

Yamakoshi: Thank you very much.