The 2025 Formula 3 season began around Albert Park, with 30 drivers on the grid desperate to start the F3 season with the opening sprint race at the Australian Grand Prix.
Rafael Câmara in the Trident took pole on Friday, but with a reversed top 12 for the sprint race, Santiago Ramos found himself starting on the front row with his VAR car. Alongside him, Matías Zagazeta’s DAMS Lucas Oil.
2025 marks the first year that Formula 3 has begun its season in Melbourne with many drivers being new to the track and the series. With new cars also being debuted for this season of F3, the drivers are arguably on a level playing field – rookie or veteran.
Lights out
The cars lined themselves up on the grid coming to the end of their formation lap. With the 30 looking to the first turn at Albert Park, the green flag was waved and the five lights went out around Melbourne.
Ramos held onto the lead into the first corner, holding off Zagazeta who made a dive down the inside of the VAR. Ramos moved to cover off the DAMS, holding onto the lead.
Martinius Stenshorne’s Hitech took advantage of Zagazeta’s move, looking to move himself into second but just being held off by the DAMS. Roman Billinski’s Rodin fancied himself a part of the fight, fighting his way into second place. But the fight was not over.
Santaigo Ramos held his lead confidently while Roman Billinksi, Tasanapol Inthrupusanak and Martinius Stenshorne swapped places from second to fourth. The fighting was halted when Charlie Wurz found himself in the gravel which brought out a Virtual Safety Car.
The VSC allowed Ramos to maintain a strong five second lead, but the mid pack remained tantalisingly close.
Safety Car
The green flag was waved. However, it was short-lived as into turn 11, James Wharton’s ART hit the back of Laurens Van Hoepen’s ART, and the pole sitter for the feature race, Rafael Câmara’s Trident. Taking all three drivers out of the race.
A Safety Car was called due to both the ART and Trident being stranded in the gravel. The SC meant that Santiago Ramos’ lead was quickly being eaten into.
With the chaos from the opening five laps, Nicola Lacorte’s DAMS had moved from 29th into 17th. Under the safety car, Tim Tramnitz pulled over in the pitlane entrance. He paused momentarily before continuing – going through the pits.
It seemed as though Tramnitz was deciding on whether to change tyres or fix damage on the car. But he opted to leave the car as it was, Tramnitz left the pits in 26th.
Just a lap later Tramnitz’ MP Motorsport was seen limping its way back to the pits once again. The damage or issues from an earlier collision took him out of the race.
Green flag
The safety car ended and Santiago Ramos made a strong safety car restart maintaining the lead. Martinius Stenshorne behind him managed to hold off Roman Billinski who was right on his gearbox.
In the midfield there was a lot of movement, with Marí Boya, Nikola Tsolov and Nicola Lacorte all making up significant places in the points playing positions.
With DRS activated, Martinius Stenshorne got his Hitech just 0.200 seconds behind Santiago Ramos in the lead. Stenshorne was closing on Ramos but the VAR driver just managed to hold off the McLaren junior.
From the lead to fifth place, a DRS train was beginning to form and although Stenshorne looked around the outside of Ramos, the VAR driver maintained the vital lead.
Ramos ran deep into the final few corners, allowing Stenshorne to close the gap even further on the VAR driver. The Hitech driver had a look again, selling the switch back into turn 3 but just unable to make it stick.
Ramos and Stenshorne also faced the issue of Roman Billinski in his Rodin who was closing in on the leading duo. Desperately looking for an opening.
Another Safety Car
A second safety car was called after Del Pino and Segara brushed each other on the straights. They made contact in the braking zone and found themselves beached in the gravel.
On lap 19 of 20 it seemed clear that the race would be ending under the SC conditions. With Del Pino’s car still being craned off the track.
The cars finished the sprint race led to the line by the safety car. Van Amersfoort Racing celebrating 50 years of racing with a win in the opening round of F3. For Santiago Ramos it marks the first win for a Mexican driver.
The podium was finished by Martinius Stenshorne and Roman Billinski. Billinski marks the first F3 podium for a Polish driver.
Feature Image Credit: PREMA racing
