The 2025 FIA Formula 3 season kicked off in Melbourne, Australia, with MP Motorsport taking on the fast and technical Albert Park Circuit. This was a brand-new track for many on the grid, making every lap of running crucial for preparation. While our pace was strong, the weekend proved to be one of challenges, unpredictable weather, and plenty of lessons to take forward to Round 2.
Free Practice
The first session of the season began under warm Australian skies. With Tim Tramnitz, Alessandro Giusti, and Bruno Del Pino all eager to get to grips with the street circuit, the focus was on maximizing track time.
Tim immediately settled into the rhythm of the circuit, consistently running in the top five throughout the session. Alessandro secured a top 10 spot, while Bruno steadily built up speed, making big strides in confidence with each lap.
• Tim – P2
• Alessandro – P9
• Bruno – P12
A promising start, and valuable knowledge gained ahead of Qualifying.
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Qualifying
In typical Formula 3 fashion, Qualifying in Melbourne delivered plenty of unpredictability. With a tight field and limited time on track, maximizing each lap was critical.
Tim set an impressive lap, but a DRS issue in the first part of his run meant he lost a fraction of time, leaving potential still on the table. Alessandro was on course for a strong result but a small mistake in Turn 6 cost him some valuable tenths. Bruno’s session was even trickier—an early trip to the gravel disrupted his rhythm, and track limits later prevented him from setting a final time.
• Tim – P5
• Alessandro – P14
• Bruno – P30
Not an ideal outcome, but the team was confident in our race pace heading into the weekend’s two races.
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Sprint Race
Under Melbourne’s hottest conditions of the weekend, the grid lined up for an action-packed Sprint Race. Tim started from P8 (reverse grid), while Alessandro and Bruno aimed to charge up the order from further back.
Tim’s Strong Start Cut Short
Tim made a phenomenal launch and was on the verge of fighting for P3, but disaster struck as a mechanical issue with the throttle suddenly forced him to slow down. He attempted to restart the car and nurse it back to the pits, but ultimately had to retire from the race—a frustrating outcome given his early potential.
Alessandro Battles the Midfield
Alessandro gained places early, climbing to P9, but as yellow flags and safety cars shuffled the order, he was forced to give back a position. In the process, he lost further ground, dropping to P14 by the flag.
Bruno’s Unfortunate Clash
Bruno had a great start, fighting immediately inside the top 25. He methodically picked off competitors with an impressive display of overtakes. Running in P15, he was closing in on more positions when an aggressive move from another driver resulted in contact. Bruno was forced into retirement, marking another DNF for the team.
• Alessandro – P14
• Tim – DNF
• Bruno – DNF
A race of “what could have been”, but focus shifted to the Feature Race, where Tim had a strong starting position in P5.
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Feature Race
Race day brought a major shift in conditions, as heavy rain lashed the circuit throughout the morning. Delays were possible, but in the end, the race went ahead, with visibility and grip proving the biggest challenges.
Tim Holds Steady for Points
Despite extremely limited overtaking opportunities, Tim managed the treacherous conditions well, maintaining position in the top five and bringing home P5—a crucial result in a race where just finishing was an achievement.
Alessandro Taken Out by Contact
Alessandro was showing aggressive racecraft in the wet and attempted a daring move into Turn 13. Unfortunately, his rival had other plans and made contact with the back of Alessandro’s car, sending him tumbling down the order to P27. He recovered to P25, but the last safety car period ensured there was no further opportunity to climb the field.
Bruno’s Recovery Drive
Starting from P30, Bruno navigated the chaos and made it through unscathed, working his way up to P23 by the finish—an admirable effort in a race with few overtakes and heavy attrition.
• Tim – P5
• Bruno – P23
• Alessandro – P25
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Looking Ahead to Bahrain
The first round of the season was filled with potential, but misfortune prevented the results from reflecting our true pace. Despite setbacks, the car showed competitive speed, and the team took valuable lessons from a challenging weekend.
With Bahrain next on the calendar, a track where MP Motorsport has historically been strong, we head into Round 2 confident that our true performance will shine through.
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