Kanato Le says he must improve mentally if he wants to fight consistently at the front of the 2026 FIA F3 Championship after enduring a challenging opening weekend in Melbourne.
Although ART Grand Prix demonstrated strong pace throughout the season opener, Le struggled to match the performances of his teammates at Albert Park. While Maciej Gładysz and Taito Kato battled near the front, with Kato securing a podium finish in the Feature Race, Le spent much of the weekend towards the back of the field.
The Japanese driver qualified 27th before finishing 28th in the Sprint Race. His difficult weekend then ended in disappointment after he retired from the Feature Race following contact damage.
Since returning from Australia, Le and ART Grand Prix have focused on analysing the weekend and preparing for the upcoming European rounds, where the 18-year-old hopes to show his true potential.
Le reflects on challenging F3 debut at the 2026 Melbourne Round
Despite the disappointing results in Melbourne, Le remains encouraged by the overall competitiveness of the ART Grand Prix package. Watching his team-mates challenge near the front confirmed to him that the car possesses the pace required to compete for podiums and strong points finishes.
As a result, Le believes the main areas requiring improvement come from his own side of the garage, particularly his mental approach during a demanding first F3 weekend.
“Obviously for me it wasn’t a good weekend, but for the team overall it was really good,” said Le to Formula 3. “I know the car has the potential to be in the top five and on the podium.”
The Japanese driver admitted the pressure and intensity of his first F3 event may have affected his performances as the weekend progressed. Even so, Le believes the difficult experience will ultimately help him moving forwards as he now understands the demands of an F3 race weekend more clearly.
“Looking over everything there’s bits and pieces I need to improve, especially mentally. Obviously, it was my first F3 weekend and I maybe got a bit overwhelmed, and by the end I’ve overdone it. So I know what’s it like now and I’m just looking forward to getting back in Monaco.”
Spielberg test provides valuable preparation
Before heading to Monaco, Le will return to the cockpit during the in-season Formula 3 test at Spielberg. The two-day running will offer him an important opportunity to rebuild confidence and regain rhythm after the lengthy break since Melbourne.
Le explained that the test arrives at an ideal time, especially with Monaco presenting one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar. The ART driver expects the Spielberg sessions to play a major role in helping him arrive better prepared for the streets of Monte Carlo.
“I think obviously it’s been a long break since the last time I drove the F3 car,” continued Le. “So it’s pretty important to be able to drive it just before the next race weekend. It’s going be a crucial two days to just get back into it and to be prepared for Monaco.
For Le, the upcoming Monaco round also represents a personal milestone, as he prepares to tackle the iconic street circuit for the first time in F3 machinery.
“I think it’s going to be super exciting, Monaco’s one of the tracks I think everyone wants to drive. I think being able to drive there is going to be an awesome experience and it’s a street track as well, so it’s going to be it’s quite tight, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Busy 2026 F3 European schedule brings fresh motivation for Le ahead of Monaco resumption
Monaco will also mark the beginning of one of the busiest periods of the F3 season, with six rounds scheduled across an intense eight-week stretch.
After waiting through a long gap between races, Le admitted he is eager to return to a more regular racing rhythm. He believes consecutive race weekends will help him maintain momentum and continue improving more quickly.
“I think it’s going to be a busy two months, a few weeks of racing,” added Le. “I definitely prefer racing for consecutive weeks than having this two-month break.”
At the same time, the Japanese driver recognises the physical and mental challenge that the packed schedule will bring.
“So it’s going to be super exciting but also going to be quite tough as well. I just need to focus on the races, just one at a time and just do the best I can. I mean the pace is definitely there, so I think I just need to do some bits from my side and I think I would definitely be fighting for the points.”
Le confident better results will come
Although Melbourne delivered a frustrating start to his 2026 F3 campaign, Le has emerged from the opening round with a clearer understanding of both the championship and his own areas for improvement.
With ART Grand Prix already proving capable of fighting at the front, the Japanese rookie now aims to translate that potential into stronger personal performances as the European leg of the season begins.
As Monaco approaches alongside an intense run of races, Le will hope the lessons learned in Melbourne become the foundation for a much more competitive next phase of his rookie campaign.
