MP Motorsport’s Tim Tramnitz returned to the FIA Formula 3 grid in 2025 for his second F3 campaign. He brought with him a sharpened mindset and one clear objective—win the Championship. The 20-year-old German had finished ninth in his rookie season the year before. Rather than move up, he chose to remain in Formula 3. That decision made him the highest-placed returning driver from 2024.
Tramnitz rejoined MP Motorsport and continued under the guidance of the Red Bull Junior Team. His goal was not only to win races, but to prove how much he had grown as a complete racing driver.
Five rounds into the season, he has shown he belongs in the title fight. He currently sits third in the Drivers’ Standings with 70 points. Championship leader Rafael Câmara holds a 35-point advantage. Although Tramnitz has already delivered several standout performances, he remains far from satisfied.
Frustrations linger despite strong results
MP Motorsport’s Tramnitz’s 2025 F3 season has appeared strong on paper. He claimed a commanding win in the Imola Sprint Race, securing his second career victory in F3. In Sakhir, he delivered a determined drive, climbing from 13th on the grid to finish third in the Feature Race. His consistency has kept him in contention for the Championship. Yet despite the results, the German remains his own toughest critic.
“I think looking at where we are right now, I would say one half of me is fine with it and another half is not fully happy,” he said. “Looking at our race pace, we are always quite quick and competitive in the races, but I always have to move up the field which shows the weakness at the moment.”
Tim Tramnitz has consistently impressed on Sundays. He often carves his way through the midfield with precision and control. His ability to extract strong race pace, manage tyres effectively, and execute clean overtakes highlights his race intelligence. However, he frequently starts from the lower end of the top ten or worse. That leaves him with ground to recover each weekend and places added pressure on his race-day performance.
Qualifying struggles a hinderance to weekend success
Qualifying has proven to be the main hurdle in MP Motorsport’s Tramnitz’s 2025 F3 title pursuit. Since starting the season with a top-five grid slot in Melbourne, his subsequent performances on Fridays have not lived up to expectations. He qualified 13th in Bahrain, 11th in Imola, sixth in Monte Carlo, and tenth in Barcelona—results that have repeatedly placed him on the back foot.
“The main thing to improve is Qualifying. In Bahrain, it was my fault, I made a mistake and lost quite a lot of time due to that, and in Imola, we were in the reverse grid front row again but that is not what we want.”
Tim Tramnitz consistently recovers well on race day. However, he knows that championship success demands strong performances over a single lap. In F3, limited track time and tight margins make Qualifying crucial. Often, the outcome of a race weekend depends on how well a driver performs in Qualifying.
“It looks like we were a bit on the aggressive side in terms of car setup,” Tramnitz explained. “I think for us, it is important to find the right balance with the car, which is still fast, but also, it is still good to drive. But also, I think in Qualifying, the mental side is also very important, and maybe it is something I also have to work on, to be there especially on the last run, to bring it all together.”
Tramnitz revealed that the car’s tendency to oversteer—although it can improve lap times on paper—does not suit his natural driving style. This issue becomes even more challenging during high-pressure, one-lap Qualifying runs. To tackle this, he has made addressing both the mechanical setup and his mental approach a key focus in his work with MP Motorsport.
Tramnitz maintains trust with MP Motorsport
Ahead of the 2025 season, Tim Tramnitz faced a career crossroads. Moving up to F2 was a tempting option. However, he chose to remain in F3 for another year, prioritising continuity and development over immediate progression. His trust in MP Motorsport’s ability to develop the car, particularly as the team adapted to the new-generation F3 machinery, played a major role in his decision.
“I mean of course you are looking at future options, and MP is also doing a very good job in F2,” he said. “But looking at the situation with the new car, they were fast last year with the new F2 car, and we assumed they would do a good job with the new F3 car, because it is going in a similar direction.
“Last year, I felt good in the team, and that is still the case. I feel good in the environment and also, I really feel like MP are seeing that there is potential this year to fight for the title. The motivation is there, and the team also did a good job improving the car compared to last year. I feel so good in the environment, and of course you are also looking into what might happen in 2026.”
Tramnitz’s decision went beyond just the car. The strong chemistry within MP Motorsport, effective technical feedback, and his increasing role as a team leader all influenced his choice. The team has offered him an environment where he can mature as a driver, and he responds with unwavering dedication and commitment.
Lessons from 2024
Unlike many of his peers, Tramnitz began 2025 by critically analysing his past performances. During the off-season, he thoroughly reviewed his 2024 campaign, pinpointing moments where inexperience or poor decisions held him back.
“There were some things that I feel I did not handle well enough, things that this season are a bit different,” he said. “From rewatching last season, I said to myself that was not the cleverest move I did there, or Qualifying, the tactics were not ideal.”
Armed with these insights, Tramnitz has reshaped his mental approach. He now approaches each race weekend with greater calm and perspective. His goal is not just to perform, but to embrace the complexity and challenges of the F3 battlefield.
Adapting to the challenges of F3
Many regard F3 for its chaotic and unpredictable nature. The grid is one of the largest in single-seater racing, featuring 30 highly motivated drivers, each aiming for a coveted spot in Formula 1. With the cars so evenly matched and technical regulations tightly controlled, even the smallest mistake can have significant consequences. In such an environment, raw speed alone is not enough. Drivers must possess mental resilience, sharp racecraft, and the composure to thrive under relentless pressure.
Tim Tramnitz understands this challenge better than most. He believes that mental preparation is just as important as physical skill when navigating a category as competitive as F3.
“I think honestly F3 is one of the most difficult categories,” he said. “You have 30 cars and everyone has the same goal, to reach F1. I feel like you need to be mentally prepared for what is to come and that is something that is helpful for this year. I think the most important thing when you get to F3 is not to be surprised.”
Tramnitz unsurprised by aggression in F3
He stressed that expecting the unexpected is key. The races are often turbulent, filled with aggressive overtaking, sudden incidents, and unpredictable conditions. Tramnitz believes embracing this volatility is essential to success.
“Do not be surprised by how messy it can be, how many things can happen, how aggressive everyone is, and how much everyone is pushing. I actually think you kind of need to like it, you need to enjoy it, instead of being afraid of something.
“I feel if you go into it and you enjoy the battles, and the racing you experience, it is the best thing you can do. It is pretty much what I am doing this year, even more than last year. I am taking it as a joy to fight my way through the field, to overtake people. A lot of results are made mentally, in all Championships, none more so than F3.”
Support from Red Bull
Tramnitz remains a part of the Red Bull Junior Team and has received extensive support from within the programme in shaping his career path. Conversations with Red Bull personnel played a role in his decision to remain in F3 this year.
“They are always full of ideas, and they can give you really good feedback, because they know what you need to get to F1.”
Tramnitz values the technical and strategic insights he gains from Red Bull, crediting their infrastructure with providing him the tools to elevate his game.
“I think how Red Bull manage things is really interesting,” he said. “In terms of how they work on the junior drivers, I think it is very different compared to other academies. They have a lot of tools, they have a lot of simulators for the academy, which is so helpful. You work with so many experienced people and I feel like from every conversation you have with people from Red Bull, you can always take something away from it.”
Whether it is debriefing with engineers, speaking with mentors, or analysing data in the simulator, Tramnitz treats every interaction with Red Bull as an opportunity to refine his craft and prove his worth.
A title challenge and future ambitions
As the second half of the season approaches, Tramnitz remains laser-focused. His goal is not only to win the 2025 F3 title but to demonstrate he is mentally and physically prepared to take the next step in his journey to Formula 1.
“I think now what is important is for me to show Red Bull that I am capable of handling the pressure, being in the top three in the Championship, being in the title fight and winning races. But for me personally, my target is clear, to fight for the title and to come out on top in the end.”
With five rounds to go, Tramnitz is not merely fighting for points—he is fighting to define the trajectory of his racing career. Backed by experience, reflection, and one of the most formidable junior programmes in motorsport, he remains a central figure in the 2025 F3 title battle.
