After a difficult start to the 2026 FIA Formula 3 (F3) season, Alessandro Giusti is hoping a return to the Red Bull Ring for the Spielberg round can provide both himself and MP Motorsport with the reset they need.
The French driver enjoyed a promising rookie campaign in 2025, finishing 10th in the Drivers’ Championship and claiming two podium finishes, including a second-place result in the Spielberg Sprint Race. However, the opening half of this season has been far more challenging, with Giusti scoring just 13 points to sit 13th in the standings heading into Round 8.
Despite the struggles, Giusti is optimistic that returning to one of his stronger circuits could help turn things around.
“I’m feeling great,” Giusti said while previewing the weekend. “The second back-to-back of the season, and I’m excited to get out on track in Spielberg.
“I like the track a lot and it’s been quite successful for me. Let’s see if we can have a good weekend. Last year was quite a good weekend.
“We had a P2 in the Sprint, but we were a bit unfortunate in the Feature Race. I was running in like P6, P7, P8, on Lap two or three, and then I had a bit of an issue on the anti-stall. But clearly the pace was there last year.
“It’s not been an easy season for everyone at MP. We’re working hard to get back to the front and we will try to test things and improve for the next few rounds.
“I hope we’ll find something, and we’ll get back to the front shortly. Let’s see this weekend, which is really different to Barcelona. Let’s see if we can at least fight for a good position.”
Spielberg’s in-season testing paying dividends
There are reasons for optimism. Formula 3 completed its in-season test at Spielberg last month, with MP Motorsport showing encouraging pace throughout the two-day outing. Giusti believes the work completed during the test could prove beneficial when the racing begins.
“Testing went quite well, to be honest,” said Giusti. “We tested quite a few things after Melbourne and it was positive. We had quite a good pace and I think Tuukka was near the top on both days.
“So I think the car’s pace was quite good, but let’s see on the race weekend. I don’t know that because we had a test here everybody will be closer, but for us, this track suits the car better.
“It’s really different track to Barcelona, which is high altitude and it’s quite a short track.”
F3 ramping up over the next few weeks
The Spielberg round also marks the start of a demanding stretch of four F3 rounds in five weeks before the summer break, but for Giusti, building momentum now will be key if MP Motorsport is to rediscover the form it showed last season.
The Williams Driver Academy member revealed the team still has several areas it wants to evaluate during Free Practice before turning its attention to qualifying, where securing a strong grid position could be crucial for both races.
“We have a few things to test in FP,” Giusti revealed. “So it will be about maximising my driving in FP to see what’s good, and what’s bad.
“Then have a good clean quali and hope to be in the top eight or top 10, that will be good. You can fight for good positions when you are in the top 12. Last year, the three guys who did P1, P2, P3, they were not even in the top 12.
“To be in a good position for the races, I would like seventh or eighth, that it’s fine for me. If we can get more, we’ll get more and maximise the car.
“But I think a good weekend will give everyone a boost. Then after, we can have a better weekend in Silverstone, Spa and Budapest. Then after you have only two races remaining in the season.
“I would say it’s quite important to start building up now and getting back to the pace we had last year.”
