Matteo De Palo had a rocky start to his 2026 F3 season in Melbourne, as the rookie endured a series of challenges that made his first race weekend tougher than he had hoped. However, despite a difficult beginning, the Trident driver remains confident about the potential he and his team have, highlighting valuable lessons learned and key improvements to come.
From a promising Free Practice session to a problematic Qualifying and contact in the Sprint Race, De Palo’s weekend was full of ups and downs. But despite the setbacks, he believes the experience gained will prove invaluable for the races ahead, especially with a team and development programme behind him that offers plenty of support.
Difficult start to F3 campaign but De Palo optimistic for future races in 2026
Reflecting on his debut weekend, De Palo acknowledged that it wasn’t the ideal way to start the season. His challenges began early in Qualifying, where a crash during his second stint saw him drop to the back of the grid for the Sprint Race. Despite these hurdles, he stays upbeat about his pace and the lessons he has learned.
“Melbourne wasn’t really good. In Free Practice, the pace was good even though it was my first time there. I managed to learn quickly and even in Qualifying, my first stint on the new tyres, I was P5 with a lot of room for improvement. But then I had the crash, so it was not ideal and because I caused the Red Flag, I had to start last on the grid. But then it was all about recovering places and getting experience.”
lthough the incident forced him to fight through the field, De Palo found value in working his way up from the back. The experience gave him more race mileage, which will undoubtedly help as he becomes more familiar with the competition.
“It will get better over the next races, but it’s a shame because I think if we didn’t have the Qualifying we had, the potential was looking really good and my pace was strong.”
Teamwork and preparation setting the stage for success
Looking ahead, the challenges of his debut race weekend does not deter De Palo. He credits his pre-season preparation and the support of the Trident team for making the transition from Formula Regional cars to F3 a smoother process. The Italian racer believes that the hard work put in during the off-season, alongside a strong team behind him, will lead to better results as his rookie season progresses.
“We have been working really a lot during the winter to get ready for this season and for all the changes from the Formula Regional cars to the Formula 3 cars. So I feel really confident. I also feel like with a big team behind me, supporting me, we can have success this year.”
De Palo’s confidence is further bolstered by his involvement with McLaren’s Driver Development Programme. The young driver is excited about the opportunities this partnership will provide and credits the Formula 1 team with giving him a significant boost to his career.
“I’m really proud about this, to have such a team like McLaren supporting me throughout my career. I will use all their help to benefit as much as possible. We have been working together for a couple of weeks at the MTC – the first time I went there, it felt unreal. Entering there, seeing all the cars, it was really cool.”
The support from both McLaren and Trident is something De Palo is keen to leverage as he looks to unlock more of his potential on the track.
De Palo keeps eye on Monaco with confidence ahead of the next challenge in 2026 F3 campaign
De Palo’s focus is firmly set on the future, and as the 2026 F3 season moves to Monte Carlo for the next round, the young driver is eager to build on what he’s learned. Having spent significant time in the simulator preparing for the street circuit, De Palo is aware of the challenge that Monaco presents, but he’s also looking forward to the experience.
“I’ve been at Trident doing a lot of simulator work getting ready for each of the races. Monaco will be really challenging but also nice to discover. After last year, I’m confident that the team and I can achieve really good results.”
De Palo’s optimism is evident as he looks forward to future races, especially as he feels that when everything clicks, his pace has been strong.
“I’m looking forward to the next races because when things have been working, we have been looking quite good. The pace looks really strong in both races and Qualifying. I can’t wait to get back on track and give our best.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, De Palo is determined to bounce back from his challenging debut and capitalise on the support around him, especially as the team builds on the lessons from Melbourne.
Building for the long-term
Despite a tough opening weekend, De Palo’s confidence and determination shine through. His preparation with Trident and McLaren provides a solid foundation, and he is already looking ahead to future races with optimism. The challenge of F3 is no small feat. With the right support, experience, and a focused mindset, De Palo is poised to develop into a strong contender in the upcoming rounds.
As the season progresses, the young Italian is eager to continue learning and improving, drawing from each experience to refine his skills. With Monaco on the horizon, De Palo knows that the journey ahead will be full of challenges, but he remains positive that he and his team can achieve great things together.
