Taito Kato completed his strongest weekend of the 2026 F3 season at Monza with third place in the Italian GP Feature Race, less than 24 hours after securing his maiden victory in Saturday’s Sprint Race.
The ART Grand Prix driver remained among the leading contenders throughout Sunday’s chaotic Feature Race and briefly fought for the lead as the order changed repeatedly. Although Nicola Lacorte and Tuukka Taponen ultimately held an advantage in outright pace, Kato stayed in contention, managed significant front tyre graining and avoided the incidents that affected several drivers around him.
As a result, Kato left Monza with back-to-back podiums and one of the biggest points hauls of his 2026 F3 campaign. More importantly, the weekend rewarded the extensive preparation ART completed before arriving in Italy and gave both driver and team additional confidence heading directly into the season finale in Madrid.
Kato credits ART preparation for strong 2026 F3 Monza weekend
Kato believes ART’s work before Monza provided the foundation for its competitive 2026 F3 weekend. The team invested heavily in simulator running and focused on establishing a setup that would allow its drivers to compete at the front around a circuit where straight-line performance, stability under braking and tyre management all played important roles.
That preparation immediately produced results. Kato claimed his maiden F3 victory in Saturday’s Sprint before returning to the podium in Sunday’s Feature Race. However, he acknowledged that the second race provided a tougher challenge, particularly because Lacorte and Taponen possessed slightly stronger outright pace.
“Yeah, really strong weekend overall. I’m happy for me and the team. Just massive thanks to the team. ART were preparing quite a lot. just using the simulator and making sure we had a good setup. We found it, and today’s race was much more tough compared to yesterday. On pure pace, we were losing a little bit compared to the two guys in front but still managed it. Back-to-back races on the podium. Still happy with the result with strong points in the back. I can’t wait for the next round.”
Therefore, third place represented another important conversion for Kato. Even without the strongest package in the Feature Race, he remained close enough to capitalise and complete an impressive double podium at Monza.
2026 F3 Monza chaos tests Kato’s composure
The 2026 F3 Monza Feature Race produced constant battles throughout the leading group, with the slipstream repeatedly bringing several cars together on the straights and into the heavy braking zones. For Kato, surviving those fights required as much restraint as aggression, particularly after Saturday’s Sprint had produced similarly unpredictable racing.
Kato briefly moved into the lead during Sunday’s contest and regularly found himself in three-wide and four-wide situations. However, instead of allowing the changing order to dictate his approach, he concentrated on remaining calm, avoiding unnecessary contact and protecting his tyres as the race developed.
“Yeah, obviously yesterday was the same. Quite chaotic overall in the race. Three wide on the straight, four wide on the straight. But I was always staying calm inside the car. Just staying focused, saving the tyres because today was a bit cooler temperature-wise and the issue was the graining for front. I think everyone had massive graining as well. So I think I should have been tyre-saving more in the beginning. But still managed it. So happy with the result.”
That composure allowed Kato to remain in podium contention even after Lacorte and Taponen established themselves as the strongest two drivers during the latter stages.
Kato manages tyre graining in 2026 F3 Monza Feature Race
Alongside the close racing, tyre management became one of Kato’s main challenges during the Feature Race. Cooler conditions contributed to substantial front graining across the field, forcing drivers to balance immediate performance against protecting their tyres for the closing stages.
Kato admitted afterwards that he could have managed his tyres more conservatively during the opening part of the race. Nevertheless, he adapted sufficiently once the graining developed and prevented the problem from costing him a place on the podium.
That represented a different challenge from Saturday’s Sprint victory. Kato had needed to attack and capitalise on late opportunities to secure his maiden F3 win, whereas Sunday demanded greater management once Lacorte and Taponen showed stronger pace. In both situations, however, he converted ART’s competitiveness into a major result.
Consequently, the Monza weekend demonstrated more than outright speed. It also showed Kato’s ability to adjust his approach according to the circumstances, something that could prove valuable during the unusually demanding final 2026 F3 round in Madrid.
Kato takes 2026 F3 Monza confidence into Madrid
Kato now heads to Madrid with considerably more momentum after his victory and third place at Monza. F3 has already completed testing at the new circuit, and ART emerged from that running with encouraging signs after competing near the front.
The Japanese driver believes that experience gives the team a strong starting point for the finale. Moreover, Madrid will provide an unusually large opportunity to score because the weekend contains two Feature Races alongside one Sprint Race.
“I think we were able to do good testing in Madrid. We were fighting at the front. So we have confidence with the car. And also, I think it’s a good opportunity to gain points in the two Feature Races and one Sprint Race. So, yes, no rest time. But we will do the maximum performance for Madrid.”
With little time separating Monza and Madrid, Kato and ART must quickly shift their attention towards the new circuit. However, the 2026 F3 Monza weekend gives them a considerably stronger platform from which to approach the finale.
Kato wants 2026 F3 Monza form to continue
Monza transformed Kato’s position heading into the closing stages of the 2026 F3 season. He arrived in Italy still searching for his first victory but leaves with a maiden win, consecutive podiums and evidence that ART can consistently fight near the front.
Importantly, the two races demanded different qualities. Kato attacked decisively to win the Sprint, while the Feature Race required him to stay composed through repeated battles, manage tyre graining and accept third when Lacorte and Taponen held stronger pace.
Madrid now provides another opportunity to turn that growing consistency into a substantial points return. With ART already showing promising performance during testing and three races available across the weekend, Kato has several chances to build on his Monza breakthrough.
After the strongest weekend of his season, his objective will be to ensure that his 2026 F3 Monza form carries directly into the final round.
