Formula 3’s 2025 season opener, a race filled with surprises, culminated with Santiago Ramos of Van Amersfoort Racing emerging victorious. Ramos’ victory was all the more dramatic as the race ended under the Safety Car following a collision between Javiar Sagrera and Bruno Del Pinto.
This thrilling event saw Ramos, starting from pole position, fend off a strong challenge from Hitech’s Martinius Stenshorne. The pair demonstrated an exhilarating battle for the lead, cut short by the appearance of the Safety Car.
Roman Bilinski of Rodin’s made an impressive debut in his first-ever F3 race securing the third spot. Campos’ Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak followed closely behind in fourth place. The top five was rounded out by Magias Zagazeta driving his DAMS Lucas Oil, while AIX’s Nikita Bedrin secured the sixth position. Ramos’ compatriot from Van Amersfoort Racing, Theophile Nael, finished in seventh place.
The race had its fair share of thrills and spills. At the outset, Ramos managed to retain his lead, even with Zagazeta making a swift start. Bilinski darted up to third position, while Charlie Wurz found himself veering off onto the grass due to a collision with Tim Tramnitz. This misstep resulted in Wurz having to park his vehicle on the run-off.
The drama didn’t stop there. A bottleneck on the exit of Turn 13 saw Stenshorne leap from fifth to first in just two corners. Behind him, a collision between Josh Dufek and Louis Sharp sent both drivers in for repairs, triggering a virtual safety car.
However, the chaos continued as James Wharton entered a corner too deep, resulting in contact with Rafael Camara and Laurens Van Hoepen, forcing the latter two to retire from the race. Wharton returned to the pits but was unable to continue.
As the race progressed, Tramnitz, after a temporary halt, managed to rejoin the race, albeit in the last position. However, his technical issues seemingly consigned him to retirement.
Amidst the drama, Ramos demonstrated his impeccable timing during the restart post the Safety Car intervention, opening a half-second lead. Concurrently, Bedrin and Nael engaged in a tussle for the sixth position, giving the top five racers a chance to pull ahead.
As the race passed its halfway mark, Ramos had a nearly one-second lead. Despite the pressure from Stenshorne’s Hitech, Ramos maintained his top position. The top five racers, Bilinski, Zagazeta, Inthraphuvasak, Stenshorne, and Ramos, pulled clear of the rest.
However, the race was not without its final twist. Yet another Safety Car appearance occurred due to a collision between Sagrera and Del Pinto. The incident left Sagrera’s AIX stranded in the gravel and Del Pinto’s MP nose-first in the barrier.
Despite the tumultuous race, Ramos held his nerve and led the pack. The final lap was run under the Safety Car, ensuring his victory in the inaugural F3 race of the year.
The commencement of the new season has certainly set a thrilling precedent. The grid for the upcoming feature will be rearranged according to the fastest time, with Rafael Camara set to start from the pole position.
Without a doubt, this season opener has set the tone for an electrifying Formula 3 season. Fans and pundits alike are eagerly waiting for the forthcoming races, setting the stage for a riveting season of motor racing.
