Round 5 Post Qualifying Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the top three qualifiers for the FIA Formula 3 Championship here in Barcelona. In third place we have Nikola Tsolov from ART Grand Prix, in second we have Arvid Lindblad from PREMA Racing and taking Pole for the first time is Christian Mansell from ART Grand Prix. Christian, congratulations how does it feel to have your first Pole in F3 under your belt?

Christian Mansell: It just feels amazing. I was so over the moon to get the radio message and look up at the massive leaderboard on the main straight. It was pretty easy to see, as I was crossing the line, my eyes were straight to the screen. As soon as I saw it, it was an amazing and rewarding feeling. We, ART Grand Prix, Laurens van Hoepen, Nikola Tsolov, we have all put in so much work. To finally get a results that shows just how much effort we have put in is a truly awesome feeling.

FIA Formula 3: Christian, it was remarkably close today 56 thousands of a second between you and fourth place. Does it make it even more satisfying to come out on top in such a tight battle?

Mansell: Yes and no. In my head pole is pole. I realistically don’t mind how I get it, by a little margin or a big one. Sometimes if you have pole by something silly like half a second, you’d feel over the moon. But in F3 the level is so high, you won’t get that unless it rains, or you have changeable conditions. Pole is pole and I will take it as it comes.

FIA Formula 3: You had a front row start in Monaco, your best qualifying performance at that point, has something clicked for you over one lap?

Mansell: I am not sure, I think it was always there it was just a matter of extraction. I am more of a race car driver rather than a qualifying driver. You do get those kinds of people that are then able to flip it on its head to be a quali driver not a racing driver. But I have always been one for the race. I have always enjoyed racing, it is one of the things I love about this sport – just racing with other cars. It is why I feel in love with the sport, I love being wheel to wheel with someone else. Quali has never been a strong point. Up until now I had 4 pole positions in my entire career but as far as race wins and podiums, I have more than I can count. To say that something clicked I’d have to agree.

FIA Formula 3: Well done, Arvid to you so nearly Pole Position. You were top until so late on, but it is also your best qualifying of the year. How do you sum up your feelings today?

Arvid Lindblad: I think it was a good session, I knew it was going to be challenging. We did quite a lot of testing here. This is the track F3 tests the most so everyone has a driver and car with a strong package. I knew it was going to be super close so it would be about not making mistakes as they would be costly. I did a decent job, I put a good lap together without mistakes. I am super happy to be starting on the front row for Sunday. This is probably the most competitive quali weekend of the year because of how well everyone knows the track.

FIA Formula 3: You say ‘no mistakes; but was there a corner or a moment where you feel like that tiny bit of time got away from you or did you feel like you got everything out of it today?

Lindblad: I think everyone can say that they have a little bit left. When we do two laps in Free Practice, three laps in Qualifying, we all have a little bit more left. It was a good lap, there weren’t mistakes but for sure there was a tenth and a half to being perfect. I don’t think these sessions are about being perfect it is about not making mistakes because you can gain three hundreds or loose a tenth and a half. So, from that point of view, I am happy with the job I did.

FIA Formula 3: You mentioned how competitive it was, you team makes are 15th and 16th today. Do you feel like you have set yourself up with a good chance to make up some ground in the Championship Standings with this qualifying results?

Lindblad: Starting at the front obviously helps with the Championship but as a rookie coming in, with my level of experience I’m not really thinking about the Championship, I am just taking it race by race. I am really happy with how the season has gone so far. I feel like every race has been a step forward. I am just looking forward to the race and to do the best job that I can, maximise points and finish as far up as possible. But I am not thinking about the Championship.

FIA Formula 3: Well done today, Nikola also your best qualifying performance in Formula 3 with your lap, are you happy with the lap?

Nikola Tsolov: I am happy with the results. We have been working so hard to arrive to the top especially in Qualifying. But I would not say I am the happiest with my lap. I think there are a few things that I could have done better and challenged a bit more for Pole as we were really close. In the end you just have to do a lap without mistakes and not a perfect one as we don’t get too much track time. I am happy in the end.

FIA Formula 3: How tough was it out there to get a clean lap, especially for that final attempt?

Tsolov: It was really tricky. After doing some races, I would say Australia and Imola was pretty tricky with it, Australia went my way while Imola didn’t. I try and take all of the positives and negatives to understand where I will be ending up starting my lap. I managed the traffic quite well in all three pushes, just doing it step by step and I ended up having good track positions all of the time.

FIA Formula 3: You have a good win in Monaco with the Sprint Race, but the Feature Race wins are harder to come by, what is going to be the key to capitalising on this grid positions for Sunday?

Tsolov: Scoring as many points as I can, finishing the race on Saturday to learn more things tomorrow for Sunday. Monaco, I had the pace for sure, just a little crash in the Feature Race compromised points. I think this race I have a higher chance than usual so I will take it.

FIA Formula 3: Great stuff, thanks very much all.