After a promising maiden Formula 3 campaign, Tim Tramnitz has been confirmed by MP Motorsport to stay with the Dutch outfit for a second year in the series. During the season finale in Monza last September, Feeder Series spoke to the 19-year-old about his 2024 efforts, his future plans and the difficulties of coming through the ranks in a challenging environment.

By Daniele Spadi

Tramnitz enjoyed a strong Formula 3 debut in Bahrain, finishing in the top five in both races and claiming his maiden podium in the feature race. However, some inconsistency throughout the middle of the season saw him lose ground in the championship fight. By the time the German resolved these issues, it was too late for him to mount a title campaign.

Though the title was not the goal anymore, he still delivered quality performances, including his first win in the sprint race at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Tramnitz ended the year in ninth place in the drivers’ standings with one win and three additional podiums, contributing to MP Motorsport’s sixth place in the teams’ championship.

Seeking improvement

Despite having what many would consider a strong debut season, Tramnitz was far from being satisfied with his efforts. “If I think about it, actually, I would say that it was a bit more of a weak season,” Tramnitz told Feeder Series in Monza.

“But on the other hand, if I look at the points we have and at the results we got, that also shows how much potential there was. I think we just made a bit too many mistakes this year, and we were not able to extract full potential; for sure it was not the greatest year.”

The German was also quick to identify the one part of his game that didn’t work as planned. ”For sure qualifying. I think qualifying is always the most important [aspect], especially in F3: as soon as you are in a good place, it makes it a lot easier for the races.”

Tramnitz went from securing four pole positions in the 2023 Formula Regional Europe season to never making the top three in qualifying this year – a feat that made his race weekends tougher than expected. “Basically, all the weekends we were out of the top 12 were not ideal. So yeah, I would say the biggest thing I have to work on is our quality performance.”

Finding the groove

In his first season as an F3 driver, Tramnitz had to face the usual challenges a newcomer must overcome in order to be competitive – from understanding the car to quickly learning tracks he had never driven on before. Not only that, but he also couldn’t rely on the experience of his teammates, since MP Motorsport went with the bold strategy of fielding three rookies for the 2024 season.

”It was a big challenge for sure. I think all three of us are quite strong, and also struggling a bit with the same points or same things, which doesn’t help the team. But you know, I think we also pushed each other, which is nice.

“But in the end, of course, I think all three of us expected a bit more from ourselves as well. Of course with Alex [Dunne], it was a bit closer in the points, and we were fighting for some positions in the races as well a couple of times, so it was a good rivalry with him.”

Despite the challenges, the German delivered some high-quality performances that reminded everyone why he could keep up with the likes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Martinius Stenshorne last year in FR Europe. ”I think that Budapest was quite strong, the sprint race,” Tramnitz told Feeder Series when asked about his best performance of the season. “Also, the feature race was not bad, although because of an issue, I couldn’t start the race and I had to start from the pit lane.

“But yeah, I would go with Budapest’s sprint race, or with Monaco race one. It’s quite a good race as well. Not so much overtaking, but I think in terms of how I had to manage the tyres and the difficult situations we had.”

Dealing with setbacks

With 37-year-old Nico Hülkenberg being the sole German driver in Formula 1 since 2023, Tramnitz is undoubtedly one of the country’s top prospects, alongside other young talents such as Oliver Goethe.

The German motorsports programme has suffered many setbacks in the past few years. The absence of German racetracks from the important and competitive junior single-seater championships such as Formula 2 and F3, and the dissolution of ADAC Formula 4 after the 2022 season are just two pieces of the puzzle that have made it increasingly challenging for the country’s young talents to make their way up the ranks.

“I think the support in Germany is getting better now again,” Tramnitz told Feeder Series. “But of course, it starts more with the karting categories, which get some more focus. To be fair, there were some years where the support was not good; luckily, I always had the ADAC with me on my way up, and they were supporting me, but not every German driver has this.

“Of course, it’s also the budget side of things which makes it very difficult. Luckily, my father always managed to take care [of] sponsors and things like this, even in karting, so we started very early, which also gave us the opportunity to do F4. But I think if you start a bit too late, it might already be too difficult.”

A fundamental support

For the past 12 months, Tramnitz has enjoyed a new wave of support from one of the industry’s best programmes – the Red Bull Junior Team – which he joined in October 2023. Out of all the benefits that such a partnership offers a driver, many feel like additional simulator time is the most useful, including former Red Bull Junior Kacper Sztuka who confirmed this to Feeder Series earlier this season.

Tramnitz thought the same, too. “Quite similar [to Kacper],” he told Feeder Series about the prime benefits of being with such a prestigious driver academy. “I also do some sim work in Milton Keynes, and then, of course, there are also some events from Red Bull Germany, where I take part.”

Being part of an F1 team’s junior programme can massively influence the career of young and promising drivers, and to have the chance to work with one of the most effective ones is a further testament to Tramnitz’s talent. “All the knowledge they have and that they can give to you, it’s so beneficial. And the sim work, also, of course, to prepare for all the races, so I’m very, very thankful to be with them.”

Climbing the ladder at a different pace

In recent years, many drivers have climbed the junior series ladder faster than ever before, with Ollie Bearman and Antonelli setting impressive examples – the latter making it from Italian F4 to F1 in just over three years. Tramnitz was one of few drivers who competed with both throughout his career, having raced against the Italian in FR Europe last season, and finishing as runner-up to the Brit in the 2021 Italian F4 season. Does this bring some unprecedented feelings of jealousy to a driver’s mind?

“Honestly, not really. I mean, if you look at the background we have and compare it to their backgrounds, I’m in a very different situation, and I think even how far we managed to come now is crazy when you think about it, how we started really with nothing, and now, me and my family, we’ve made it at least to F3 now.

“Of course, there’s still a long way to F1, which is clearly the target; but, no, I’m not jealous at all. I think I did everything I could until now with all the opportunities we had, and of course, they are in a very different situation. So, yeah, fair enough, I think they did a good job, and they deserved the opportunity.”

Same challenge, new goals

Tramnitz will remain in F3 for a second year with MP Motorsport. Though the 19-year-old was looking to possibly step up to F2, he felt as though such a move might not be in his best interests.

“I think for me, another year in F3 would make sense, it would be another opportunity to fight for the championship, and also just learn a bit more. I feel like I would, of course, like to do the step to F2, but you can never forget the budget side of things, so, it’s one more year to find also some budget and to gain experience.”

With funding now being more important than ever in motorsport, Tramnitz has to play the long game. However, this could be a chance for him to shine against competitors who aren’t struggling with the same issue, which could ultimately be a greater reward than other categories could offer. “When you think about it, you’re fighting against so many people who just don’t look after the budget, it makes it a bit more difficult, but it’s also a challenge.”

Additional reporting by Michael McClure

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency