Bruno del Pino believes there is still plenty to fight for in the closing stages of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 (F3) season, with the Van Amersfoort Racing driver confident he can finish the year on a high despite a difficult run of results.
The Spaniard enjoyed a strong start to the campaign and spent much of the opening half of the season inside the top five of the Drivers’ Standings. While recent rounds have seen him slip to ninth in the 2026 F3 Standings, del Pino remains optimistic that he can climb back up the order over the final two race weekends.
“I think we can take many positives,” del Pino said. “I think we’ve shown that we are very strong, we’ve shown that we can be up there.
“The last three rounds, many factors, from my side and external factors have also impacted things, but I think even with that, we’ve shown that we could fight up there.
“We still have two rounds to go and it will still be positive overall if we put things together, which I think we will. So, I’m happy with the job done so far, I’m happy with myself and I think we can still continue to go on and get good results before the end of the year.”
Top 5 within reach for del Pino
Although the last few rounds have not gone to plan, del Pino believes his early-season form has shown what he is capable of, with sixth and even fifth in the championship still within reach.
“I had been top five for basically the entire season. I demonstrated that I was there, it’s just been these last few rounds that went off course. 10 points from sixth and I think even fifth is within reach. It’s doable and I’m very positive that we can get the job done.”
Recharging ahead of the final rounds
The summer break has provided del Pino with an opportunity to recharge ahead of the final two rounds, including the season finale in his home city of Madrid. The Spaniard is looking forward to racing in front of family and friends and hopes the occasion can help him finish the campaign strongly.
“I mean, if it was me, it could have come after Barcelona or Spielberg when things started to go south a bit.
“It’s a good moment to have a break. We’ve been non-stop racing and going back to the factory for so many weeks, I think sometimes you need a bit of a recharge.
“Of course, if I could drive a car every day of the year, I’ll drive a car. But, it’s also good to relax a bit, reflect upon what went well, what didn’t and reset for the last two and a half rounds.
“We’re going to do the best we can to achieve everything that is possible and keep on with the progress because every race is a way to outdo yourself. And I think we can do a really good job, as we’ve shown, and try to finish the championship in style and with maximising everything.
“I had a special edition helmet in Barcelona, I think I’m going to present a new one in Madrid, which is very special. I live in Madrid, it’s the city my father was born in.
“It’s great, finishing the season there, being able to go and relax at your house every single day, get all your family and friends together to the last dance. Because you never know what’s going to happen next year.”
Experience paying dividends
Now in his second Formula 3 season, del Pino believes experience has made him a more complete driver. While he feels he has taken a significant step forward compared to his rookie campaign, he knows the final rounds will be crucial as he looks to strengthen his position for the future.
“It’s just been more complete, being more under control of what I can achieve. Of course, with many more points, it also motivates me, knowing that I’ve been working as hard as I can to do it.
“My position in the championship has improved, so overall, I think it has been a big, big improvement. Coming into F3, you’re fighting against top drivers at this stage of their careers, so it’s obviously very difficult.
“So that year of experience has also helped me a lot, especially in the beginning of the year where I knew what to expect on the new tracks that maybe some rookies didn’t expect.”
“It’s very important for me because you’re in a moment in your career where F2 is right there, and then you look to F1. The window is getting very small. So every option – it’s more limited every year that goes by.
“So I will be trying to finish the season in the best possible way, with all the support from family and friends which will be really, really important for me.”
