Round 8 Post Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the top three for the FIA Formula 3 Championship Sprint Race in Budapest. In third place we have Dino Beganovic from PREMA Racing, in second is Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak from AIX Racing and taking his first win of the season is Nikita Bedrin also from AIX Racing. Nikita, congratulations your first victory in Formula 3, how do you feel?

Nikita Bedrin: I think it was a very good race, especially not starting from pole made it even better at the beginning of the race. It was a very challenging first half of the first lap because it was quite intense going into T1, having a car on that side of me, it was a bit of a trap to go there but I still risked it. It paid off in the end because I was able to take the lead in T2. I'm super happy with the race. I was able to keep it, I was not sure if I was going to have the pace for that, but I think I managed very well. I barely did any mistakes on my side, and I am really happy to keep the win, especially having some good pace in the last few laps.

FIA Formula 3: As you say the first lap was crucial, but also you have to fight with Dino later on as well where he tried to overtake you at Turn 2, just talk us through that battle from your perspective.

Bedrin: He got a very good exit out of T1, so I knew he was going to try something. I still defended the inside, and he just sent it and when he first sent it, I thought to myself ‘Ah he got me,” but then when I saw him going straight and I was like ‘OK if Tasanapol doesn't pass me then I'm good.’ Luckily, he was too far at the time to get close to me, I still managed to keep the lead, but the adrenaline was quite high. Especially when I saw him going straight, I thought he might collect me as well and we might have a crash, but he managed to avoid it. It was hard racing. Of course it was good for him to try.

FIA Formula 3: You mentioned Tasanapol. It’s a one, two for the team today, how special is it to secure this result? Bedrin: It’s the first time this year that we are closer than P8 I think so for sure it’s very special. It's also history for the team because it's the first year for this team in the Championship and to get a one, two is something really special. I think we worked hard throughout the season, so I think we deserve it. Also, the whole week we have been looking quite strong. I just think we deserve it.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations, and to you too Tasanapol, it’s your first points and your first podium, just describe your emotions.

Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak: Thank you very much. As the season has gone on, we have been struggling a bit for the first part of the season, but the team worked really hard, and I work really hard to improve everything and to be here for this race I am just super happy to be on the podium today.

FIA Formula 3: You seemed to bide your time a little bit in the first part of the race and then take advantage when the top two were fighting there. Just talk us through that moment, taking second place from your point of view.

Inthraphuvasak: I had quite a good start, but I had to settle for third because it was a bit too far in the first corner. I was just managing the tyres a bit in the first half of the race and then when the top two were battling into Turn 2 I took advantage of it. From then on in P2 we had quite a good place, not enough to overtake Nikita but to finish P2.

FIA Formula 3: How did those closing laps feel when you were sitting there in a tight field, everyone's close together and you know that you're getting closer and closer to the final lap and then getting on the podium?

Inthraphuvasak: It was a bit tense because it was my first time in this Championship fighting this far up in the field. Yeah, it was a bit tense, but it was manageable.

FIA Formula 3: Dino third place for you today, it was a strong way to bounce back from Silverstone, but I imagine you were after a bit more today?

Dino Beganovic: Yeah, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster not knowing until this morning that I will start in pole. I'm not happy with the race starting from pole and finishing P3. I didn’t really have a good launch at the start, Nikita got me in T2 but then I just tried to get my focus back and fight back. I tried to make a move into T2 and just caught the kerb when I was going into the apex, and I lost the car. I don’t regret trying it. The big points are tomorrow, we need to try to recover as much as we can from this weekend after the Qualifying session yesterday but it's a strong way to do it today, especially like you said, off the back of Silverstone it's good to be back on the podium.

FIA Formula 3: You stuck with the Top two throughout most of that race, you seemed close in most areas, but it looked like the final sector maybe, just out of the final corner it's tough to stay close. How hard is it to follow and try and make a move happen here?

Beganovic: It's really tough. I mean it's a track that is very nice too drive. It’s a very technical track and I really enjoy driving here. In the race it is a bit more tough because there are not a lot of overtaking opportunities. It was difficult to understand where to attack and how to plan it. I got a good run out of T1, and it was my chance to try in T2, obviously I lost the place but again I don't regret trying it. I think the pace was not bad, but I think we can still improve some stuff tomorrow. It's good experience for that.

FIA Formula 3: You’ve made a bit of ground in the Standings today, but the bigger points are on offer tomorrow, what have you learned from today that will be important for the Feature Race?

Beganovic: We learnt some points regarding how to set up the car. I think for tomorrow we can definitely improve, in fighting and the tyre management. It’s a big difference from last year coming on the Hard tyres this year, it's a very different race from last year. Last year we had to manage quite a lot and while this year we were managing a bit we are still able to push which is very nice to have. I think that's why the race will also be quite interesting tomorrow.

FIA Formula 3: Well done to everyone today, thank you.