Maciej Gładysz left Silverstone with his maiden F3 victory after a dramatic 2026 Feature Race and a series of post-race changes reshaped the final classification.
The ART Grand Prix rookie crossed the line fourth after a combative drive from eighth on the grid. However, he first moved onto the podium after Théophile Naël received a 10-second penalty. Then, after stewards penalised Ernesto Rivera and disqualified Matteo De Palo, Gładysz inherited victory.
Although the result came in unusual circumstances, the Polish driver still took major positives from a breakthrough weekend that also included sixth place in the Sprint Race.
Gładysz grateful after first F3 win
Gładysz admitted that he would have preferred to win on track. Nevertheless, he focused on the significance of the result, the points gained and the importance of delivering his first victory in FIA F3.
“I’m very happy and grateful to the team. Maybe it’s not the way to take the win or P2, but still, nice points for the championship and a nice first win of the year,” he said to Formula 3.
“Being the only Polish driver in the championship, it’s something special, I’m super happy. I started from P8, made my way up to the podium, so it’s an amazing feeling.
“I’m super grateful to everyone, to the team, to the engineers, to the mechanics, to my teammates, to my family, to the fans and to the gods for helping me always and showing me not to give up.”
The result carried personal meaning for Gładysz as well as competitive value. As the only Polish driver on the grid, he described the win as “something special” and used the moment to acknowledge the people around him.
Moreover, the result rewarded ART Grand Prix after a weekend where Gładysz showed pace across both races. Sixth in the Sprint gave him useful points, but the Feature Race delivered the moment that changed the shape of his rookie campaign.
Gładysz relives “crazy” Silverstone battles
Gładysz had to fight hard before the post-race decisions moved him to the top step. During the race, he battled closely with Rivera and Fionn McLaughlin, with the trio going wheel-to-wheel through Stowe and the Vale chicane.
He described the race as chaotic, but he also felt he could have done slightly more during his fight with Rivera.
“It was honestly a crazy race, so many overtakes. With Rivera I thought I’ll keep that position because McLaughlin was defending quite well. Then Rivera overtook me back, which obviously was maybe a tiny bit disappointing and not the best from my side, because I think I could have done a little bit better.
“But still, to get a podium in the last lap, which I didn’t even know about. So it’s honestly crazy news for me, it’s a crazy day. I’m super happy to bounce back like this after three tough rounds, where things haven’t gone as planned.
“We’re going back home with the win, and now we’re going to the tracks I really enjoy driving it and it should be fun till the weekend.”
That response captured the mix of emotions behind his Silverstone result. On one hand, Gładysz recognised moments where he wanted more from himself. On the other, he still converted a demanding race into a podium before the classification changed again.
Crucially, he also viewed the result as a response to recent frustration. After three difficult rounds, Silverstone gave him the chance to reset and carry confidence into the next phase of the season.
2026 Silverstone F3 success surprises Gładysz
Gładysz also admitted that he had not expected Silverstone to become one of his strongest weekends. Before arriving in Britain, he did not rank the circuit among his favourites, especially after also finding the Red Bull Ring difficult.
However, ART Grand Prix helped him find rhythm, and Gładysz turned that into points in both races.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect I would perform this well,” admitted Gladysz. “Silverstone wasn’t my favourite track at all before the weekend. I was like Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, two of my least favourite tracks.
“But everything went well, and coming away with a win and a P6 in the Sprint Race, it’s an amazing feeling. Now I’m P6 in the championship, which is quite strong for my rookie season.
“I’m hungry for more, I want to have more and I’m really looking forward to the next couple of weekends.”
That turnaround made the result even more valuable. Gładysz did not simply capitalise on a preferred circuit; instead, he maximised a weekend he had not expected to suit him.
As a result, he now sits sixth in the championship and heads towards Spa-Francorchamps and Budapest with renewed momentum.
Gładysz targets more after rookie breakthrough in Silverstone
Gładysz’s Silverstone weekend offered more than a first F3 victory. It also showed his ability to recover from difficult rounds, race in heavy traffic and take opportunities when they appeared.
While the win came after penalties and a disqualification, Gładysz still put himself in position to benefit. He started eighth, fought into podium contention, and kept himself close enough to gain when the final classification changed.
Now, the ART Grand Prix driver wants to build on that breakthrough. With tracks he enjoys coming next, Gładysz has a clear chance to turn one dramatic Silverstone result into sustained rookie-season momentum.
