Round 1 Post Sprint Race Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome back to Melbourne, where it's time for our FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race press conference with the top three finishers. In third place, we have Brando Badoer for Rodin Motorsport, in second Enzo Deligny for Van Amersfoort Racing and in first place Bruno Del Pino also for VAR. Bruno, this is a nice way to start the season, even if we had fewer laps than planned. Talk us through your race, as you looked to have it all under control.

Bruno Del Pino: Yeah, so the start was pretty clean, no issues there. I managed to create a gap quite quickly compared to the guys in the back and then from there it was quite an easy race towards the safety car, just trying to put on the pace, trying to save tyres as well and then I saw that there was no DRS available. Even so I tried to create the gap to get far away from the DRS even though there was none, so it was also a bit easier for me than the rest of the drivers. But I think before the safety car, it was all under control. I felt that I could have continued like that. It was a pity that the racing ended early, of course, the health of the other drivers is more important, but it's a nice way to start the season, even though it's half the points. But looking for the momentum towards tomorrow.

FIA Formula 3: You look to have good pace up until the red flag, how do you rate your chances of more points tomorrow, starting from P12?

Del Pino: So, P12 is not the place I wanted to start off, even though it led me to be here today. But of course, learning from the pace that we had today, I think we look quite capable of getting some good points tomorrow. Obviously, the other drivers are also going to be fighting for it, so it's going to be a difficult race tomorrow, but just as I said, keeping on the momentum towards tomorrow, trying to improve as best as we can and let's see how the race goes tomorrow.

FIA Formula 3: Well, thank you very much, congratulations on today's results. Enzo, moving on to you, P2 on your F3 debut, also a good way to start the season. Are you happy with that result today?

Enzo Deligny: Yeah of course I'd say if someone would tell me you'd be P2 in your first F3 race I'd definitely sign it so happy to start that way and good for the team as wel,l 1-2. Like Bruno said, shame that it was shorter and the DRS didn't really work so when I saw that happen I just made my own bubble, made my own gap, and then made sure that I was managing my tyres, but otherwise it was a quite a calm race.

FIA Formula 3: You mentioned that it's a 1-2 for VAR in the first race of the season, how positive is it to start the season like this early in the season, even if the race was shortened?

Deligny: No, for sure, it was positive that we both got into the top 12 because if we were P13, it would have been a completely different weekend. So, a bit lucky on that side and then I think when you start on in the front row on the Saturday you just kind of stay there so if you have the good pace and then tomorrow, obviously starting further back so it'll be different with dirty air, but I'll still do my best and obviously in clean air the pace looked normal, quite decent, so let's see what we can do tomorrow.

FIA Formula 3: Thank you very much, good job on your first podium. Brando, thank you for waiting. It's a P3 and a podium in your first race with Rodin Motorsport. I believe it's just a good way to start your second F3 season, right?

Brando Badoer: Yeah, it was definitely a lot of hard work in the winter with Rodin Motorsport. The guys have been working really well, we were quick in Barcelona testing, and we kicked off Practice really, really well in Melbourne. Being P2 in qualifying we were quite fast as well probably we didn't maximise our full potential but it was cool to have the first podium straight away in the first race of the season starting from fourth the start was good and I jumped up to P3 and then stayed there up until the end of the race which came earlier than expected but the important thing is that after that big crash the guys are okay and that's the most important.

FIA Formula 3: That's very nice, you just mentioned the start, you were really quick off the line, and you made the move from P4 to P3 in the opening corner. Can you talk us through that start and that move for P3?

Badoer: Yeah, it was just a good start, I think we selected the correct clutch, and I saw a gap in T1 braking, so I went for it. I could have stayed there until the end of the race. I tried to keep up with the guys ahead, but of course, DRS not being available didn't make it easy to get past, but it was fine like this. We will go again tomorrow from P9, we'll have another shot from a bit back in the grid compared to today, but still a good shot if we have a good pace, we can score a good result.

FIA Formula 3: Even if we had a shortened race and fewer laps today, what did you learn from the sprint that you will be able to take into tomorrow's race?

Badoer: It was definitely a valuable experience for tomorrow for the team and me as well, also understanding which direction to move with the setup and what to expect from the Medium Pirelli tyres. So, it's definitely a valuable experience, and it will be helpful to know what to expect tomorrow and how to be quick.

FIA Formula 3: Thank you very much, good job today `