Round 2 Post Qualifying Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to today's FIA Formula 3 press conference following qualifying here in Monte Carlo. In first place we have Théophile Naël of Campos racing, second but first in his group is Brando Badoer of Rodin Motorsport and in third place is Freddie Slater from Trident. Theo starting with you, it’s pole in Monaco and your second of the season, what does that mean to you?

Théophile Naël: Yeah my second pole in a row for FIA formula 3. Obviously, the team kept walking super hard in the beginning of the season. So it felt really good this pole, amazing. Now we should finish the work on Sunday, and tomorrow will be a day to learn for the Feature race on Sunday.

FIA Formula 3: What's it like sitting in the pit lane watching group A go out, waiting for your chance and seeing the time to beat come in?

Naël: To be honest, it's a bit stressful, waiting for us start the quali. I mean, once you are in the car, then it's, let's say, easier. Just need to drive and the feeling it's amazing, especially here in Monaco, between the walls. Yeah, amazing feeling.

FIA Formula 3: Turn one in Monaco is iconic. Sunday morning, what's going to go through your head, sitting on that grid?

Naël: Well, I think yesterday when I did the practice start, it was really good. So I think we have a clear idea on what to do for the start. And then we will see, I hope to have a clear T1 and then just finish the race without mistake.

FIA Formula 3: Thankyou Theo, Brando moving on to you, P1 in your group but P2 overall, what's the emotion like?

Brando Badoer: Yeah, of course, in a track where the starting position is fundamental, like Monaco, pole position was the goal and that's what I went for in my lap. It was a really good lap and I'm proud to be leading my group. I knew it was going to be tight with the second group because of track evolution and I expected them to do better, so yeah, it is what it is. We'll start from the front row which is still a good result and I'm looking forward to finish the job on Sunday.

FIA Formula 3: Are you satisfied with the run? Do you think you got the most out of the car?

Badoer: Yeah, definitely. I don't think I could do much better than that in my run, so yeah, no regrets really.

FIA Formula 3: Sunday morning, lining up next to Theo on the grid, what's your approach into Turn 1?

Badoer: Let's see

FIA Formula 3: Not going to give me any hints?

Badoer: It depends. Of course, we want to have a good start but at the same point it's a Championship, so looking forward to bring points home. Of course if I will have a chance to win the race I'll take it, but we have to stay realistic and see what happens.

FIA Formula 3: Thanks Brando, Freddie to you, you're P2 in your group. It was a very hard-fought qualifying session, you and Theo pushing all the way through. Just talk to us about that because we saw you got closer to the wall, maybe a little bit closer than you would have liked? Freddie Slater: Yeah, honestly I'm just a little bit gutted with myself. I needed to give it up at that point out of T6, that's where it all started from. It wasn't actually T7 where I clipped the wall, it was actually started from T6 and that's where I wish I just would have changed a few bits and just backed it off a little bit just to give myself a bit more margin. Obviously I had that, but then I reset it really well actually. I'm very happy with the way I reset it during the cool-down lap to get into the final push. Then in the final push, it was obviously I was green or purple. I think fighting for pole personally, but in the last sector I was already struggling with the rear. The rear tyres were obviously very hot at that point, and I think it’s the same for everybody. I just couldn't quite maximise that final sector, which I think I for sure could have done a better job. I think I put a lot of probably scrutiny on myself over that qualifying session, but to be sitting P3 on the grid for the Feature Race and P2 in group in the qualifying session for the first time in Monaco, I think we can be very happy with that. I definitely need to give myself a bit of credit.

FIA Formula 3: Talk to us about managing the session. As you said, you had to have a little reset in the middle of the session and the team had a little bit of a different run plan from everyone else. How tough is it to manage in Monaco qualifying?

Slater: Yeah, obviously it wasn't easy for us as a team because we were last in the pit lane, so we had to go with a bit of a different run plan to try and obviously fight for pole. The car's been good all weekend as we saw from FP and we were always up there, especially the first couple of laps yesterday, which was very, very positive. Then during that, once I clipped the wall, obviously I knew I was in a little bit of trouble, but then I obviously had a bit of a mistake in T11. Then I was like, OK, it doesn't feel great, but I think I can reset the cool down lap and that's exactly what I did. The team gave me some information. I actually forgot about all that they said because I was like, it's not beneficial to me. I just need to focus on this final push and relax. I did that and I was going well until just a few bits on that last push, but I'm very happy with how I reset in between.

FIA Formula 3: What are your hopes for Sunday? Not on the row that you wanted to be, but you're not far off it.

Slater: We can still win the race, for sure. There's a lot that can happen in Monaco and I never believe we can't win, so get a good start and then head down from there.

FIA Formula 3: Well done all.