Round 9 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 Championship Sprint Race in Spa-Francorchamps. In third place we have Noel León from Van Amersfoort Racing, in second, we have Gabriele Minì from PREMA Racing and taking P1 today is Dino Beganovic from PREMA Racing. Dino congratulations, winning from pole in such tricky conditions, just how was it out there?

Dino Beganovic: It was very tricky, quite similar conditions compared to last year. A little bit more dry but very tricky. It is also a tricky track to have these conditions, but we managed it well. I am very happy with this result. I lost the start to Minì but I was able to recover it later, so I am very happy.

FIA Formula 3: Just talk us through that move recovering that lead from what had happened at the start, it look sort of greasy through Raidillon, a few moments there for you.

Beganovic: Yeah, it was a bit sketchy when you get up the hill. It was just about managing and being in control of the car there, it was difficult. It was the same for everyone. I lost the start to Gabriele, I had a really poor start off the line, I got a lot of wheel spin and after I was not able to challenge even into Turn 5 because I just lost a lot of time in Eau Rouge. I was not able to get the momentum but after the Safety Car, I prepared the tyres quite well and was able to execute then and get the momentum up to T5 which was key for the race. To be in clean air as well for the management of the tyres was definitely something that was in my hands later in the race.

FIA Formula 3: After today's results you are 28 points off the Championship lead. Is the target tomorrow to stay in contention going into Monza or will you be looking to close that gap in a big way?

Beganovic: It’s a track where you can race, tomorrow we expect better conditions than today. It should be dry if you ask me. It will always be a tough race, managing it well with race craft. Also, we expect tyre management to be a factor in the race tomorrow. The goal will be to leave for the Summer Break with a smaller gap than we started with this weekend.

FIA Formula 3: Gabriele well done, you led for a spell but bouncing back from a tough weekend in Hungary, are you happy with second place today?

Gabriele Minì: Of course, the goal after Hungary was to bounce back. I think today we did that. Of course, we aim for the win which is a shame not to get but I am still very happy with second place. We know it is a Sprint Race and the goal is to be in contention for the title at the last race.

FIA Formula 3: Tell us about the fight for the lead that you had with Dino. You had some moments where you were putting pressure on him, other moments where you had pressure yourself. It looked tricky to manage in that race, what was your perspective?

Minì: It was very tricky, the track was a bit damp in places, in others it was more wet and then in other places it was more dry. I got a really good start, I managed to get ahead and then the Safety Car did not help me for sure, because everyone was really close after that, and the slip stream was quite big. I had to give the position, I mean Dino overtook me at the restart. I tried to stay with him of course. Sometimes I was closer in the straights, and I could stay with him. In other places it was a bit trickier, for example Eau Rouge, it was harder to follow, and the guys behind would get close. It was a lot about Eau Rouge to be honest today.

FIA Formula 3: Let’s talk about the gap in the Championship picture, you extend your lead over second placed Luke Browning but what do you have to think about when you are in battles in these races, are you conscious of the Championship as well?

Minì: In a way in every race you always want to maximise what you do. Now we are in the second to last round of the Championship, so you also have to think about the Championship Standings. The goal was to gain points, if you can win, then win, if not then try to get good points and gain over your competitors which is what we did today.

FIA Formula 3: Noel, back-to-back podiums for you, how happy are you with your drive today?

Noel León: I am super happy with my result, P3 from P7. It was a really tricky race with the conditions, but we managed well. The car was really fast. In the last lap I was able to overtake some drivers. I think we have a great car for tomorrow.

FIA Formula 3: You made some moves at the end there, you got past Tim Tramnitz on the final lap for the podium spot, how tough was it to judge making the overtaking moves when you have wet and dry patches all over the circuit?

León: On the lap earlier, I had the chance to overtake Tim, but I knew that the next lap it was going to be important with regards to the DRS on the last lap. I knew that if I overtook him in the last lap then he would not be able to overtake me at the end. So, I waited another lap. Looking back, I should have overtaken him before because at the end, I mean I did the Fastest Lap on the last lap so I probably would have caught these two guys. But I am super happy with the podium, P3 with the Fastest Lap is an incredible result.

FIA Formula 3: You’ve had multiple podiums this season, you are not in the title picture into the final round but what is your target for the final three races?

León: For me the target was to be in the top 10 of the Championship. I think with this result now I am P9. For me it’s just to maximise every race. Tomorrow, we race very early so it could be damp at the beginning. It’s the same target, stay out of trouble in the first few laps and at the end try to make some moves.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations to you all today, very well done.