After an incredibly tough Formula 3 season for Prema Racing, they have taken P2 and P3 in Qualifying for the final round of the season. Noel Leon took his strongest result of the season with this P3 result, after finishing second fastest in Group B.
With Monza being a home race for Prema, this result means a lot for both the team and Leon alike. In a Press Conference after Qualifying, Leon spoke to Pit Debrief and other media outlets about his weekend and season.
Securing his best result of the season
Sitting at P18 in the F3 Championship Standings, with 21 points, Noel Leon secured his strongest Qualifying result for the season in the final round. This is his best Qualifying result following his P5 in Monaco. While Leon is aware he has been fast in previous sessions, everything came together for him in Monza. Soaring to P2 overall in Group B proved his performance.
“Yeah, super happy with the result. Finally putting all together, you know, the last few qualifying I’ve been fast, just didn’t manage to put everything together or just be unlucky with the yellow flags, traffic and a lot of things. And yeah, finally, now we get it right, P2 on my group. So yeah, really happy.”
Leon provisionally held pole position at the end of the Group B Qualifying session. This was until Brad Benavides swooped in to take the quickest time. Watching Benavides’ time soar through the second sector, Leon naturally hoped for a mistake.
“Yeah, I mean, when I crossed the line, I saw that I was P1, but immediately I saw the sectors of Brad. When I saw that he was coming purple sector 2, obviously I was like, I hope that he do a mistake or something in sector 3. But a few moments later, I realised that I was P2. So obviously it’s a really good position. And after how tough has been my qualifying, I was pretty happy with that.”
Split Qualifying brings confidence for the weekend
Following the format of the Monaco Qualifying session, the F3 Italian GP Qualifying took part in two groups. Leon was lucky enough to be in Group B. Group A suffered greatly after not putting in laps early, only having time for a single push in the end.
Luckily for Group B, they had time for three. The first push was incredibly important for Leon, and put him straight into P2. Once confirmed he had time for a third push, he found a tow and put in a lap worthy of pole, until Benavides went quicker.
“Yeah, to be honest, our group was much better than the first group. We did a three-push. So yeah, I knew that something could happen. So obviously the first push was quite important. We were P2. But still, when I saw and I looked here at my engineer that we were able to do a third push, I got a good tow. And yeah, finally we put a good lap and was able to put P1 until Brad crossed the line.”
This isn’t Leon’s first outing at Monza, and he knows how to race here. With a strong Qualifying position boosting his chances for points, and even a podium, his confidence is boosted further.
“Yeah, sure. I’m confident. The car feels good. I know how to race here in Monza. And yeah, we’ll try our best to score some good points and hopefully a podium.”
The fear of only having time for one lap affected everyone in Group B, forcing them on track earlier. This gave them an advantage on Group A, with their multiple push laps. While it is important to get on track early in a split Qualifying session, it is also important to maximise what you can within your own group.
“Yeah, of course. As Brad says, everybody was scared to not get more than one lap. So we went quite early. And of course, it can be a little bit of an advantage that we got more than to push. But obviously, what you try to maximise is your group. Anyway, if you are P2 or P3 or P4 faster than the other group, anyway, it’s by rules. So what you try is to maximise your group and that’s what you can do.”
When asked whether he had preference of a split Qualifying session or joint one, Leon noted that the split format was fine. Monza commonly faces issues with traffic and slip streams, so this format avoids that problem to an extent. He also adds that 30 cars on track is more chaotic and dangerous.
“Yeah. For me, it’s fine, the groups, as Ugo says. Traffic and the search for the slipstream is key in this track. So having 30 cars on track is going to be a little bit dangerous and a little bit more chaotic. So for me, the groups are fine. Just, I don’t know, sometimes teams want to go for the ultimate set and you go super late, as the first group happened. So I don’t know. It’s just, I don’t know how to improve this situation because group two was fine. So yeah, it’s a bit tricky to be honest.”
The difference in the new generation of F3 car
Having competed in both this year’s new generation of F3 car, and the last generation last year, Leon is in a position to directly compare the two. Overall, the two cars don’t have a great deal of obvious difference. Rather, he believes it comes down greatly to each team’s set up.
The rear of the car, and the way it feels on new tyres are the only real, notable differences. He notes that the lap times have stayed much the same. This car is as fast as the old one.
“Yeah, a little bit. I think it also depends on the setup of the team. Obviously, I drove the old car with another team, so obviously, it changed a little bit. I think, in terms of how to find the lap time, also, it changed a little bit with this new car. It was a little bit more rear-locking, and as Brad says, with the new tyres, on the high speed, it feels a little bit different. But to be honest, we do the same lap time. It’s just in a different way, but as fast as the other.”
With the new generation of F3 car also came 100% sustainable fuel. This is a positive step for the series as a whole. Although, the fuel doesn’t create a noticeable difference for the drivers, and many would argue this is a positive thing.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s great, to be honest, to the series being taking these steps. And as we’ll say, for us, it doesn’t feel so much of a difference in terms of the fuel.”
A reflection on the season so far
Since the start of the season, the Prema machinery has continued to grow faster. Notably, from Austria onwards, the Prema Racing team has been strong. While Leon acknowledges the struggles he has faced with the second set in Qualifying, he knows his first was usually strong.
Coming back from a well needed, and well deserved Summer break, Leon feels ready to come back stronger in Monza.
“Yeah, the car became quick. From Red Bull Ring onwards, we’ve been, as a team, quite strong. I was not able to finish the job always on Quali. I was always good in the first set, but never on the second set. So it’s just adaptation, to be honest, with the car, with the setup that the team is running. Yeah, obviously, after a few runs that have been tough qualifying sessions, I was struggling a little bit. But now with the summer break, it was nice to be back home, reset and come back stronger for Monza.”
A redeeming Qualifying after a tough season for Prema Racing
Prema Racing currently sits in P8 in the Team’s Championship Standings after what has been quite a tough season. Having accumulated 75 points to this point, they sit 208 points behind Trident who is leading.
While his teammate Ugo Ugochukwu has been strong and fighting for pole position a few times, he is grateful to be starting on the second row in Monza. He acknowledges the hard work the team has put in to get their drivers to this point.
“Yeah, for sure. The team has been working really hard to put us in this position, to put us fighting for poles. Ugo has been also quite strong and he’s been fighting for more poles than me. But yeah, it’s all thanks to the work that the team has been doing and yeah, it’s incredible to be P2, P3 here in Monza in his home race and we’ll try to maximise someday with the podium.”
Starting from P11 in the Sprint Race and P3 in the Feature Race, Leon holds a strong opportunity for points and a podium.
