Maciej Gładysz enjoyed an encouraging start to his 2026 FIA F3 campaign after finishing fourth in Qualifying at the 2026 Australian GP. The ART Grand Prix driver improved late in Friday’s session at Albert Park. In the closing minutes, he set a best lap of 1:34.454.
At the moment he crossed the line, the time briefly placed the Polish rookie inside the top three. However, a later improvement from Théophile Naël ultimately pushed him down to fourth. Despite that, the result still marked an impressive performance on debut weekend in the championship, prompting an enthusiastic reaction from Gładysz over team radio.
Confident start to the 2026 Australian GP weekend for F3 rookie Gładysz
Qualifying represented Gładysz’s first competitive experience at the Albert Park Circuit. Like many rookies facing a new track early in the season, he initially focused on building confidence while adapting to the tight layout and close walls around the circuit.
After the session, Gładysz spoke about his positive impressions from the opening day of the Melbourne round and the encouraging pace shown by his ART Grand Prix machinery.
“It was very positive, I’m really happy with the car we have. The races are obviously different, but I’m really happy to start the season and the race weekend like that. I am starting fourth for the Feature Race and ninth for the Sprint, so I am really looking forward to it. There will be lots of battles throughout the races, but I will try to keep it calm and make a good start to get ahead of the drivers in front. But overall it’s really nice track.” said Gładysz on Qualifying.
“I was a bit scared at the beginning to drive so close to the walls. It’s not similar to Monaco, but it’s still quite close. But I really enjoyed this track to drive. So I think I can improve some things for the next time I’ll be here. But for now, I can enjoy and relax before the upcoming races and then I will give them my best.”
Finding pace as the session progressed
While the final result was strong, Gładysz admitted the session did not start smoothly. His early laps left him puzzled by the gap to the leading times. As a result, he reviewed his approach and made adjustments for the final runs. Gradually, both his driving and the car balance improved. The 2026 F3 ART driver eventually found the pace needed to secure a competitive grid position.
When asked about the mindset on the last attempt, the 17-year-old said: “After the first stint I was very confused that I was that far away, that I was that far off the pace. After that, I made lots of improvements with my driving. The car improved as well. We had less fuel, as did everybody and I’m really happy with the performance. I was a bit going crazy after this qualifying because I didn’t expect that. The first time at this track and doing so well, I think it’s a really good thing for me.”
Determined approach for the Melbourne races
With Qualifying complete, Gładysz now turns his attention to the two races scheduled across the Melbourne weekend. The Polish driver emphasised the importance of consistency and clean racing. He believes both will be key to maximising his results during the opening round of the season.
“I want to go for everything this weekend. I think for the whole season when I’m in top 12, I’ll give it my best all the time to try to score as many points as possible without any bad things on track, without any penalties. So I can get a nice amount of points by the end of the season, but at the moment I am focussing on the upcoming races.”
After a promising first Qualifying session in F3, Gładysz heads into the 2026 Australian GP with momentum. If he can convert his strong grid positions into solid race results, the ART Grand Prix rookie could begin his debut season with a valuable haul of championship points.
