The historic Imola circuit once again gave us a breathtaking backdrop for the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Round 3 saw drama, precision and no shortage of standout performances. In a weekend that saw momentum shift, strategies tested, and new storylines emerge, it was Santiago Ramos, Tim Tramnitz, and Rafael Câmara who stood out – and at the top of the standings. Read our 2025 Emilia Romagna GP F3 Roundup below.
As the Italian sun shone on Imola, drivers were pushed to the limits. From dominant early pace to surprise podiums, the weekend underlined just how unpredictable and closely fought this season is proving to be.
The Chronicle Headlines
- Rafael Câmara topped Free Practice and secured a third consecutive pole, underlining his dominance in qualifying.
- Tim Tramnitz spearheaded MP Motorsport’s first-ever 1-2 finish in Formula 3 during a controlled Sprint Race victory.
- Santiago Ramos executed a clinical late-race pass on Câmara to take his maiden Feature Race win, signalling his rise in the title hunt.
- Câmara retains the lead on 73 points, but Stromsted, Tramnitz, and Ramos are now firmly in contention as the title race heats up.
- With consistent podiums from Câmara and Stromsted, TRIDENT stay on top in the Teams’ standings, though MP Motorsport are gaining ground.
Free Practice – Câmara Sets the Tone
Friday’s free practice session belonged to championship leader Rafael Câmara, who set the benchmark with a lap of 1:33.091 for TRIDENT. The Brazilian looked dialled in as he topped the timesheets ahead of MP Motorsport pair Alessandro Giusti and Tim Tramnitz. It was a performance that sent a clear message: Câmara had no intention of relinquishing his advantage.
Further down the order, however, Santiago Ramos, who would later deliver one of the weekend’s biggest stories, could only manage 20th — well off the leaders and out of sorts. Rodin Motorsport and PREMA Racing showed solid early pace, while the session ended early due to a red flag caused by Ugo Ugochukwu spinning into the gravel. It wasn’t the cleanest start for many, but for Câmara, the tone was firmly set.
Qualifying – Câmara pulls it out of the bag
In a qualifying session full of tactical gambles and late drama, it was once again Câmara who rose to the occasion. With the session paused after a red flag for Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, a number of drivers remained in the pits, including all three TRIDENT cars. When they finally ventured out again, there was plenty of action left in store. On his last flying lap, Câmara delivered a 1:32.206, clinching pole and making it three in a row to start the season.
Santiago Ramos, rebounding from a quiet practice, had briefly held provisional pole with a flying lap of his own, only to be narrowly denied by Câmara. Noah Stromsted made it a TRIDENT one-three, while Tuukka Taponen, Louis Sharp, and Roman Bilinski also featured strongly. MP’s Tramnitz and del Pino qualified 11th and 12th respectively — crucial positions that handed them a front-row lockout for the reverse-grid Sprint. As the sun set over Imola, anticipation was building for the first of the weekend’s two races.
Sprint Race – MP Motorsport dominate
Tim Tramnitz produced a clinical and assured performance in Saturday’s Sprint Race, seizing the lead from MP teammate Bruno del Pino on lap three and never looking back. Managing two Safety Car periods and a late DRS-enabled charge, Tramnitz was unflappable out front, guiding MP Motorsport to their first ever 1-2 finish in Formula 3 — a historic achievement for the Dutch outfit.
Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov completed the podium with a steady drive, fending off the Rodin Motorsport pairing of Sharp and Bilinski. Further down the field, battles were fierce and positions frequently changing. Noah Stromsted once again played the long game, securing fastest lap and a valuable extra point in sixth. Ugochukwu, León, and Giustirounded out the points. Retirements for Boya, Zagazeta, and Marinangeli added to the race’s unpredictable nature, but it was Tramnitz who stole the headlines — and the silverware.
Feature Race – Ramos reigns supreme
Santiago Ramos delivered a composed and tactical drive on Sunday morning to take his maiden Feature Race win in Formula 3. Having lost the lead early on to pole-sitter Câmara, Ramos refused to panic. Instead, he shadowed the Brazilian, preserving his tyres and maintaining DRS range throughout. When Câmara began to struggle with degradation in the final laps, Ramos made his move — sweeping around the outside of Turn 2 on Lap 19 in a pass that was as bold as it was calculated.
From there, the Mexican held his nerve, even as Stromsted closed in on the final lap. The Dane had again shown superb racecraft, overtaking his teammate as Câmara ran wide at Acque Minerali to snatch second. Taponen brought home a solid fourth, while Boya rebounded impressively from his Sprint DNF to finish fifth. Tramnitz and Giusti continued to gather points for MP Motorsport, with Bilinski, Tsolov, and van Hoepen completing the top ten. Ramos’ triumph wasn’t just a race win — it was a statement.
Championship Picture
Rafael Câmara still leads the Drivers’ Championship on 73 points, but the chasing pack are now firmly in the mix. Noah Stromsted, fresh from a double podium weekend, sits second on 52, with Tramnitz close behind on 48. Taponen and Ramos follow, now separated by just a point. With a third of the season nearly gone, it’s clear that the title race is no longer a one-man show.
In the Teams’ Championship, TRIDENT hold a commanding lead with 135 points, thanks in large part to Câmara and Stromsted’s consistency. But MP Motorsport are mounting a serious challenge, now on 76 points. Campos Racing sit third with 60, while Van Amersfoort and Rodin Motorsport are level on 54. The battle for third — and possibly more — is well and truly alive.
Next Up: Monaco Awaits
From 22–25 May, the championship heads to Monte Carlo, for what is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the calendar. With overtaking notoriously difficult and every corner steeped in risk, it’s the ultimate test of driver control and confidence.
As the fight at the front intensifies, and the midfield battle becomes ever more fierce, one thing is certain: the streets of Monaco will not just test who is quickest — but who is truly fearless.
IMAGE CREDIT: PREMA Racing