Smith ready to “bounce back” in front of home crowd

Looking to “bounce back” from a turbulent opening round in Bahrain, Australian F3 driver Tommy Smith is hopeful of scoring his first points haul of the season during Formula 3’s second venture to Albert Park this weekend. 

The young Australian, having qualified in 27th, found himself ending the Sprint in 28th, before crossing the line on Sunday in a slightly higher 22nd.

“I think Bahrain, I had good race pace, but yeah, I was just stuck, to be honest,” Smith said.

“It’s hard when you qualify 27th.

“It’s so hard to go forwards a lot, you know.

“In this championship as well, it’s all about tyre management, and to be able to pass people you use a lot of your tyre.

“But I am confident, just got to maximise tomorrow.”

Smith will take to the Albert Park Circuit for F3’s opening practice session on Friday, with his hopes of a points finish on home soil high on the Van Amersfoort racer’s radar.

The Australian came close to it last time out, driving a brilliant race of recovery to end in a bittersweet P12, just shy of his fellow Australian, Christian Mansell.

“It’d be super cool [to score my first point at Albert Park],” Smith said.

“I was close here last year, but unfortunately it didn’t go to plan to be honest, but, coming from 27th to 12th, I felt like it was close.

“It’s definitely possible.”

A top ten finish is just what Smith needs to ignite his 2024 season, with his Bahrain performance seeing the Australian starting his second year with the Van Amersfoort Racing team on the back foot.

“I think we learnt a lot [last year], Van Amersfoort were in their second year last year, they were still learning as well.

“We’re in a better spot now, and yeah, I think we’ve just got to put it together, it’s a very competitive team this year.”

Narrowing his focus, the #22 is pressurising his early Friday running.

“FP1 leading into quali, it’s such an important day so, yeah, we’ll focus on that.

“It’s so easy to be not where you want to be in qualifying.

“All you need is one good lap and it makes your whole weekend so yeah, we’re just looking for that and hopefully it comes this weekend.”

Despite it being early days in 2024, Smith has high hopes for the eight rounds that follow the series’ outing in Melbourne.

This season marks the Australian’s second in F3, having finished his rookie season 27th in the overall standings. 

“I don’t want to put a number on [my 2024 expectations], but definitely to be competitive. 

“It’s all about qualifying, getting close to that reverse grid would change my weekend, to be honest.

“At the moment the goal is to do the best I can in Formula 3, and hopefully if I have a good enough year, possibly look at Formula 2.”

Smith and rest of the F3 grid will hit the track for FP1 at 8:50 AM, tomorrow, followed by what will be a tense battle for Pole in the afternoon. 

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