Round 5 Post Feature Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Welcome everyone to today's FIA Formula 3 press conference following a thrilling feature race here at Silverstone. Joining us P3 from ART is Maciej Gładysz. In second place from Campos it's Ernesto Rivera. And from TRIDENT capturing his first F3 win it's Matteo De Palo. Matteo, congratulations first F3 win. How does that feel?

Matteo de Palo: Thank you very much. It feels amazing. Hasn't been a really easy start of the season for us. We had a lot of issues that didn't allow to show our potential and our pace. But yeah, here in Silverstone everything went, let's say, normal. And yeah, we managed to get a good quality, good sprint races yesterday and today they win from starting from P5. So yeah, we're pretty happy about this and all the job we have done.

FIA Formula 3: Yeah, take me through your race. I mean, starting from P5 and coming to victory there had to be some management along the way. I'm assuming only because of the front tyre, it really did look like it was graining quite badly out there for you guys.

De Palo: Yeah, honestly it was, at least for me, quite unexpected the degradation in the front. I did a really good start. I got P4 after three corners. Then yeah, I saw like really, really soon that my pace was there because I was really close to too sharp. Then managed to overtake him after. And then yeah, I started to be behind Nael. But again, I was much faster. So I took the opportunity, not thinking a lot about the tyres. The next lap I saw that it was even much quicker than Freddie Slater. So I managed to take the lead quite soon. Then yeah, there is where I started focusing on the tyres. But I saw that yeah, they were degrading quite badly from the beginning. That was maybe where I started to worry a bit. But my team said, look, it's good. Everyone is in the same condition. So keep focused on your job. That's what I tried to do until the last lap. Then yeah, Freddie after some laps with the DRS was able to get closer and overtake me back. I did some laps behind him. And I think it also helped me a bit because following, the tyres were cleaning up a little. So I did four laps behind him and the tyres got in a better shape. And I felt like my pace was back. Then yeah, managed to take the lead again. And differently from the first time, I was able to open much more the gap, take a safe gap. Then he managed to get a bit closer. But yeah, the DRS was so powerful. I saw him in the section without DRS. He was a bit far. And then after the DRS zone, he was just right behind me. Then the safety car came. I was hoping it would last as long as possible. But yeah, it was fun to have at least one lap at the end. It was a bit of chaos. Temperatures were not there anymore. Tyres were screaming. I also flat spotted massively in the last corner to keep the position. But it was a good defending, I think. But yeah, at the end we got the win. So really happy about the race.

FIA Formula 3: When you move up to P10 in the championship, what does a win like this do for your confidence moving forward?

De Palo: I'm not thinking honestly about the Championship. I think it's focusing more on the work we have to do. And then yeah, the results are coming as we know. Of course, yeah, we didn't have points before this round. So it's not ideal to throw to the bin four rounds for the championship. But now I think we get a chance to come back to the top. And we still focus on our work me as a driver, and also as a person. So to be as prepared as possible for the future.

FIA Formula 3: Well, congratulations. Coming to you, Ernesto. Can you take me through the opening start of your race?

Ernesto Rivera: It was very tough at the beginning. I dropped back to P7, I think. I think yesterday I struggled a lot with the tyres since the beginning. I started to save as much as possible. I got passed by Maciej Gładysz, Fionn McLaughlin, and Matteo as well. So yeah, it was tough at the beginning. And mid-race onwards, I started to pick up the pace a little bit. I saw I had some more tyres than the others. I was able to get into P4. And yeah, last laps were amazing. That last lap was so fun. The move on Freddie was very good, I think. And also the last corners with Maciej defending was very fun.

FIA Formula 3: Could you just take me through that last lap after the safety car? I mean, you guys were nose to tail for the entire thing. How did you plan your moves in that moment?

Rivera: Turn one was super tricky with the tyres not being up to temp. They were so bad, in so bad condition, all grained. And coming to T9, Freddie and Matteo were side by side. Freddie went a bit wide, and then I just followed Theophile onto Maggots and Becketts. I almost lost the car, but I managed to keep it there. And going into Stowe, me and Matteo were side by side. I just braked as late as possible, defended last turn, and even we raced to the line. But yeah, the adrenaline was so high.

FIA Formula 3: Well, congrats on the P2, Ernesto. Maciej coming to you, first podium in Formula 3. How does that feel?

Maciej Gładysz: Yeah, I'm very happy. To be honest, I didn't expect to be on the podium today. Started from eighth, and then after the safety car was in fifth position, I was thinking about just trying to keep that position because the tyres were not in the temperature window. Like Ernesto said, they were all grained in the front. Then Freddei went off. I managed to overtake him. At that time, I thought I was in fourth, so I was trying to pass Ernesto. He managed to defend quite well. After the race, I didn't know I was on the podium, so I drove to another pit lane, and then I was told that I'm actually on the podium. But yeah, I'm very happy. First podium, and I hope it's not the last one.

FIA Formula 3: Could you just take me through that final lap?

Gładysz: Yeah, when I saw the opportunity coming, I managed to overtake Freddie, and then I was like, I think we can get that podium. On the last lap, I mean, on the last two corners, I was trying to go outside, but Ernesto managed to keep it well, and yeah, as he said, it was big adrenaline inside.

FIA Formula 3: Well, congratulations on the P3.