Santiago Ramos powers to victory in chaotic FIA Formula 3 Melbourne sprint

MELBOURNE–Mexican Santiago Ramos secured his first FIA Formula 3 win with a lights-to-flag effort in the season opening sprint race around the Albert Park circuit.

The 21-year-old Van Amersfoort Racing driver built a confident lead at the start and held his position as the race unfolded in anger behind him, finally taking the chequered flag behind the safety car.

“Really happy with the race result," said Ramos.

"At the beginning of the race, we were able to create a gap, I thought it was going to be enough to keep me out of problems for the rest of the race, then the safety car came."

"Then Martinius came quite close to me a couple of times, so I was a bit scared. In the end we managed to keep the position, and it was a really, really fun race."

Martinius Stenshorne was second, with Roman Bilinski completing the podium on his Formula 3 debut.

There was immediate action as a dramatic battle emerged for the final podium position on lap one. Front-row starter Matías Zagazeta held his position into turn one, with Bilinski dropping to fifth after falling behind Stenshorne and Campos Racing driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak.

It was a three-way battle throughout the opening lap with Stenshorne returning to second and Bilinski back up to third by the end of the lap, with the virtual safety car hitting pause on proceedings to allow the stranded Trident of Charlie Wurz to be recovered from the track.

When racing resumed the action was short-lived, with Rafael Câmara and Laurens van Hoepen both exiting the race in the gravel at turn twelve after contact with Aussie James Wharton.

With the order at the front consolidating, Inthraphuvasak made a vital pass on Zagazeta to take fourth position, but their battle allowed the top three some crucial breathing room.

The safety car returned after contact between Bruno Del Pino and Javier Sagrera in turn six, with the race running out of time as the clean-up operation continued.

The Brazilian also kicked off celebrations for team Van Amersfoort Racing's 50th year. "It's quite good for the team, I think they're really happy," he said.

"Let's try and make it a good year for them, not only for us as drivers, try to make them proud and finish well in the championship standings."

The FIA Formula 3 championship returns with the feature race at 9.00am AEDT on Sunday.

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