Maciej Gładysz leaves the 2026 Silverstone Round as a FIA Formula 3 (F3) race winner after a dramatic reshuffling of the Silverstone Feature Race results.
The ART Grand Prix rookie originally crossed the finish line in fourth before being promoted to third after Campos Racing’s Théophile Naël received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Following the official FIA Formula 3 post-race press conference, attended by Pit Debrief, the results changed once again. Matteo De Palo was disqualified from the race victory, while Ernesto Rivera received a post-race penalty, promoting Gładysz to his maiden FIA Formula 3 victory. Freddie Slater inherited second place, while Championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu completed the podium.
Important break-though in his rookie campaign
When Gładysz spoke after the F3 Silverstone Feature Race, however, he believed he had just secured his maiden Formula 3 podium. Even before inheriting victory, the Polish rookie described the result as an important breakthrough after a chaotic Feature Race.
“Yeah, I’m very happy. To be honest, I didn’t expect to be on the podium today.
“Started from eighth, and then after the Safety Car I was in fifth position. I was thinking about just trying to keep that position because the tyres were not in the temperature window. Like Ernesto [Rivera] said, they were all grained in the front.
“Then Freddie [Slater] went off. I managed to overtake him. At that time, I thought I was in fourth, so I was trying to pass Ernesto [Rivera]. He managed to defend quite well.
“After the race, I didn’t know I was on the podium, so I drove to another pit lane, and then I was told that I’m actually on the podium. But yeah, I’m very happy. First podium, and I hope it’s not the last one.”
The last lap Sprint to the line
The race built towards a frantic one-lap sprint after a late Safety Car, with Gładysz finding himself in the thick of the fight for the podium. Having overtaken Slater through Maggots and Becketts, he looked to snatch another position from Rivera in the closing corners, but ultimately fell just short.
“When I saw the opportunity coming, I managed to overtake Freddie [Slater], and then I was like, I think we can get that podium.
“On the last lap, I mean, on the last two corners, I was trying to go outside, but Ernesto [Rivera] managed to keep it well, and yeah, as he said, it was big adrenaline inside.”
Speaking to Pit Debrief, Gładysz admitted the final lap was his favourite moment of the F3 Silverstone Feature Race, although the opening stages were equally enjoyable as he carved his way through the field.
“I think the most enjoyable part of this race was the last lap. I managed to do one overtake in Maggots and Becketts on Freddie [Slater].
“Maybe apart from that, the nicest part was the start as well. I managed to climb my way up to P7 after Turn 7. Then I was battling for three laps with Ernesto [Rivera] for P6. He managed to overtake Fionn [McLaughlin] and then I managed to overtake Fionn [McLaughlin]. So it was quite nice.
“Towards the end, I had some pressure from Louis, who was trying to overtake me in Turn 4. But I managed to keep that position. So, yeah, this race was a big chaos honestly.”
Determined to make every move count
The late restart added another layer of pressure, with the field bunching back together for one final lap around Silverstone. Gładysz admitted he had little idea of what to expect as the green flag flew.
“It was honestly such a good race. And yeah, I didn’t know what to expect, honestly.
“I had a big pack behind me, a few cars in front of me, so it was honestly a really stressful race, but happy to finish it like that and happy to get back home with a trophy.”
Beyond the result itself, the weekend carried extra significance for the ART Grand Prix driver as Poland’s sole representative on the FIA Formula 3 grid.
“I’m very proud to be representing Poland at this stage already, as I’m the only Polish driver representing Poland in this championship.
“So I’m very happy to be here. And what I would tell the younger drivers from our country is to never give up, to believe in yourself and to not tell yourself that you’re tired.”
Expectations at Silverstone
Silverstone produced two of the closest races of the Formula 3 season, with lengthy DRS trains keeping the field tightly packed throughout both the Sprint and Feature Races. Even Gładysz admitted he hadn’t expected the racing to be quite so intense.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect that here will be big racing at this track.
“I knew there will be some overtakes, but I didn’t expect such a big train of cars every lap. Like I thought at one point, somebody will have a big deg and will drop a couple of positions and then some group will just create a gap.
“But for the entire race, top 10 was just in half a second. And honestly, it was a pleasure to race here and can’t wait for another one here.”
Confidence heading into the remaining rounds
Although the revised results have since elevated him from fourth on the road to a maiden FIA Formula 3 victory, Gładysz made it clear that his approach for the remainder of his rookie season will not change.
Asked by Pit Debrief how much confidence a breakthrough weekend gives him heading into the second half of the campaign, the ART Grand Prix driver said remaining grounded will be just as important as the result itself.
“Yes, of course it gives confidence for another round, but obviously the most important for me is to remain being humble, not to put any pressure on myself and to still qualify at the top 12.
“And then after, I think it should be a good rest of the season.”
