With one round remaining in the 2025 F3 Championship, Santiago Ramos sits 14th in the standings with 48 points. The Van Amersfoort Racing driver’s year has been a study in contrasts — weekends of elation, where everything clicked, alongside others where results slipped away.
The season began in emphatic fashion. Ramos delivered a statement win in Melbourne, controlling the race from the front and making it clear he could seize opportunities when they arose. That performance came with a surge of confidence, but the unpredictable nature of F3 meant challenges soon balanced the celebrations.
There were other bright moments: a P2 finish in the Barcelona Sprint Race, where he fought hard through the closing laps to defend his position, and a P8 in the Silverstone Feature that rewarded his patience in tricky conditions. But the most emotional moment came at Imola — a victory at the very circuit where he first raced in Europe.
Yet the high points have been offset by ten point-less finishes and three retirements. Whether due to misfortune, set-up struggles, or the chaos that often unfolds in tightly packed F3 fields, Ramos has experienced the full spectrum of racing’s unpredictability.
Staying focused on F1
The journey from Formula 3 to Formula 1 is one of motorsport’s toughest transitions. With only 20 seats available at the pinnacle of the sport, competition is fierce and opportunities are scarce. Even for those with strong junior records, the step up is not guaranteed.
Over the years, many talented drivers from F3 and F2 have found themselves carving out careers elsewhere — Formula E’s growing roster of ex-F2 stars, IndyCar’s high-speed challenges, and the endurance racing boom all stand as proof that there are other ways to make a living at the wheel.
For Santiago Ramos, however, the idea of switching focus before he has chased down every last opportunity in F1 is not something he is willing to consider. In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, the Van Amersfoort Racing driver emphasised his commitment to pursuing F1, echoing comments by teammate, Théophile ‘Théo’ Naël
“Yeah, for me, I think it’s more or less the same as Théo. I think the target is clear. We know what we have to do. I think we just have to work hard. And yeah, I think [from] the moment you start focusing already on other categories [it’s] because you already gave up.”
The Mexican driver’s words leave no room for doubt — for him, looking elsewhere too soon is tantamount to admitting defeat. This mindset drives tunnel-vision determination: you focus everything on the goal, block out distractions, and accept an alternative only after exhausting every path to F1.
No Plan B… yet
However, Ramos is not oblivious to reality. He knows that F1 is a high-stakes game, where timing, sponsorship, and even luck can play decisive roles. If those factors do not align, he accepts that he may one day have to explore other championships.
“So yeah, I just stay focused on my objective of Formula 1, try to reach there and eventually at one stage, [if] it’s not possible or whatever, then I have to look for another category.”
For now, however, Plan B remains firmly locked away. Despite this, however, Ramos, like teammate Ivan Domingues, is not unaware of the attractions that other championships can offer
“Of course, there is really interesting proposals in Formula E, like you said. There is also IndyCar, there is Hypercar. There [are] many categories where you can make a living out of it, like Ivan said, but yeah, that’s, I guess, not the conversation to have right now.”
Formula E’s expanding calendar and urban race settings, IndyCar’s unique mix of ovals and road courses, and the resurgence of endurance racing all provide opportunities for drivers to remain in top-level competition for many years. For some, these categories offer more stability, or at least more opportunity, than the volatile world of F1. Ramos does not rule out looking into these options should his future not go according to his current plan.
“If something happens and if things don’t go as planned, maybe in the future I will be looking into that.”
For now, though, there is no doubt about his mindset. To break into F1, Ramos believes a driver must be all-in. Divided focus risks losing momentum in the fight for limited opportunities. Until he has exhausted every option to make the jump, his career will remain pointed in one direction.
Imola: Victory at a special track
However, despite the choices that he will soon have to make regarding his future in motorsport, Ramos is taking the time to savour the present. While F3’s calendar might be shorter than F2’s or F1’s, but it still takes drivers to some of the most iconic racing venues in the world. For Ramos, 2025 brought a particularly meaningful stop: Imola.
The Imola circuit has long been a favourite among drivers for its flowing layout and rich history, but for Ramos, the connection runs even deeper.
“Yeah, for me, like I would like to say Monaco, but I’ve driven there before and I know it’s quite boring in the races. So for me, really a track where I was looking forward to drive this year was Imola,” Ramos said when asked about his favourite track.
Imola is where Ramos made his European single-seater debut. His appearance in the 2019 Italian F4 Championship marked his graduation from karting and remains a pivotal moment in his racing career. With the track set to leave the F1, F2, and F3 calendars from 2026 onwards, the 2025 F3 round carried extra significance for Ramos.
“It’s a really special track and it [is] meant to be the last year, so it was also special for me to be driving there. It’s the track where I made my debut in Europe in formula cars. So it’s quite special for me.”
But the weekend was more than a sentimental return. Ramos delivered a commanding performance, claiming his second win of the 2025 F3 season. Standing atop the podium at a venue so central to his career offered a moment of validation after the challenges of the middle part of the year.
“We should take the cars to Mexico”
After reflecting on the emotional high of the 2025 F3 Imola Round, Ramos turned his thoughts to the tracks he would love to see added to the calendar. When it comes to potential future venues, his choice is personal and clear: he wants to bring Formula 3 to Mexico.
“And yeah, if I could add one track to the calendar, for sure it would be Mexico. I think we should take the cars to Mexico. I think that would be quite fun.”
The natural candidate is the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, the country’s most famous motorsport venue and home to the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
“We have good tracks there. We have the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez [in Mexico City].”
For Ramos, the idea goes beyond personal pride. A home race would offer an opportunity to showcase F3 to a passionate fanbase that has long supported Mexican drivers. The atmosphere at the Autódromo during the F1 weekend is renowned for its energy, and Ramos believes bringing junior categories there could create equally memorable experiences for drivers and spectators alike.
Learning from the lows, building on the highs
Consistency has been hard to come by for Ramos in the 2025 F3 Championship, but the standout moments prove his pace and potential remain undeniable. Victory in Melbourne set an early benchmark, while strong finishes in Barcelona and Silverstone demonstrated his ability to fight for points even when wins were out of reach. His triumph at Imola added an emotional highlight, a reminder of both his talent and the milestones that have shaped his career.
Equally important, however, are the lessons learned from the tougher weekends. Ten point-less races and three retirements tested his adaptability, patience, and resilience — qualities that are essential for any driver aspiring to reach Formula 1. Those challenging moments have strengthened Ramos’ mental resolve, preparing him for the pressures of the sport’s top tier.
With one round left in the season, his focus remains unwavering. Each remaining race is not just an opportunity to score points, but a chance to refine his craft, demonstrate consistency, and show teams and backers that he has what it takes to succeed at the next level.
Even with other championships presenting tempting alternatives, Ramos’ sights are firmly set on F1. Until that door closes completely, every lap, every race, and every decision will be guided by a single objective: reaching the pinnacle of motorsport. Santiago Ramos is determined to keep pushing toward that goal, one race at a time.
