Round 10 Post Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the top three finishers for the FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race in Monza. In third place we have Santiago Ramos from Trident, in second is Sebastián Montoya for Campos and taking his maiden victory is Tim Tramnitz from MP Motorsport. Tim congratulations, a lights to flag victory, it’s not always easy to do in Monza. How does it feel to have your first F3 win under your belt?
Tim Tramnitz: It feels very good. I’ve finished P2 twice, I was hoping it would come soon. It took a bit longer but finally we made it to the top step. It just feels very good. Before the last Safety Car I was already quite relaxed. Then everything got bunched up again and a bit close. Just very happy.
FIA Formula 3: It looked like breaking the tow was crucial to your win today, leaving the other two behind you to fight between each other. Was that the key, getting out of DRS?
Tramnitz: Yes, I didn’t really do it much at the beginning, just to be a bit more safe after the last Safety Car restart. In the end of course it is difficult to measure how much it really helps because they are following. Maybe it was just a little bit helpful. It also helped that there was just one lap left and we did not have DRS. Obviously it’s a bit more difficult to keep them behind.
FIA Formula 3: What were the nerves like on that last restart, you’d led the whole way, you felt in control, and you know it’s a one lap shootout?
Tramnitz: I felt quite safe going into T1. I just covered the inside a little bit. Coming out of Turn 2, Seb was very close and I thought, we may end up side-by-side. I defended into T4, it was quite close but fair. For the rest of the lap, after both Lesmos I saw that the gap was opening up again. I just knew I had to keep it cool, and I would be fine.
FIA Formula 3: Congratulations, Sebastián a hard fought P2, just how happy are you with this result?
Sebastian Montoya: Really happy. We were the only one in the Top 3, Top 4 that didn’t have new tyres, so the pace was clearly there. Here in Monza, it is always quite close. I was having a battle with Santiago. I really enjoyed it. It’s been really nice. The season has been really difficult so having a clean weekend and showing the speed we actually have is really nice. Back-to-back podiums is also really good.
FIA Formula 3: Can you talk us through that fight with Santiago on the final lap, especially that run into Parabolica at the end.
Montoya: We went into T4 side by side. When he cut me in the braking I just got on the breaks as early as possible because I didn’t want to hit him. I was just trying to finish on the podium as well. Then I lost a bit of ground and Santiago caught up. I saw coming out of Ascari that he was quite close, with the weaving and trying to stay still I knew that if I had the inside I could have him quite easily. It was a bit close for comfort, but it was really good. Really good racing, really fair and I really enjoyed it.
FIA Formula 3: Back-to-back P2 results for you off the back of the Feature Race in Spa, you must be hoping that the season was not ending?
Montoya: Yeah, it’s really nice. Finally, everything is starting to come together, and this means we can show what we can do very easily and very cleanly. It’s been quite nice after a bit of a struggle, especially halfway through the season where we had a lot of potential but a lot of things out of our control happened. To finally ramp up and finish on the podium twice with one more race tomorrow, I’m really excited.
FIA Formula 3: Congratulations, well done to you. Santiago, third place for you. How were the battles with Sebastián today?
Santiago Ramos: The first laps were a bit tricky for me. I knew I had the tyre advantage so could push a bit more. When I caught him, I knew I had a bit of a pace advantage so I was trying to overtake him as quick as I could to try and catch Tim. In the end, I overtook him but then started to get degradation, so had to take care of the tyres. I was sure there would be another Safety Car so I said I couldn’t finish while fighting him. He overtook him, he overtook me while Tim escaped but, in the end, it was nice racing but quite close.
FIA Formula 3: It was indeed but it was a first podium for you in F3 this season. How good does it feel to end this season with a trophy?
Ramos: Yeah, it’s nice. I think we’ve showed many times that we were able to win here. I was just sometimes in the wrong spot at the wrong moment. I am happy to be finally able to achieve a podium. We have everything to fight for tomorrow, I am starting P5 so for sure we can fight for another one tomorrow.
FIA Formula 3: A lot of the rookies are doing well today, as part of the rookie season how much have you learnt this year?
Ramos: It has been a learning curve from the start. Bahrain was quite solid, Melbourne was a bit harder for me. I had to come back from the break after what was a tough weekend. So, getting the Pole in Imola, it got me back in the rhythm. Towards the end we are getting better and better.
FIA Formula 3: Thanks to all, well done today.