MP Motorsport began post-season testing at the Circuito de Jerez with an impressive display of pace and precision, led by French driver Alessandro Giusti. The Williams Driver Academy member set the benchmark for the day, recording a fastest time of 1:30.732 in the morning session before returning in the afternoon to take P2, just behind teammate Tuukka Taponen.
The team’s dominance was absolute — all three MP Motorsport drivers finished inside the top six in both sessions, a clear statement of intent as preparations begin for the 2026 F3 season. Rookie Mattia Colnaghi also made an excellent first impression, securing third in the morning and sixth later in the day, proving the team’s balance between experience and new talent.
A productive start to the 2026 campaign
As the sun set over Jerez, Giusti appeared relaxed but visibly pleased with his performance. The Frenchman, who ended his rookie season just a few weeks earlier, reflected on the surreal feeling of beginning preparations for next year while 2025 was still not over.
“It was a really good day. I feel like it’s the first day of 2026 already, which is kind of weird because we are still in October of 2025.”
His words captured the unusual transition period that post-season testing represents — a time when teams simultaneously look back and look forward. Giusti went on to describe the benefits of the recent downtime after the season finale in Monza, noting how the team had used the short break effectively to reassess their approach.
“But it was a productive day for all three drivers and the team, I feel quite comfortable. With the little break we had after Monza, we reviewed some stuff and we improved some stuff, so feel quite happy with how things went today.”
That sense of progress was evident in his lap times and consistency throughout both sessions, signalling that Giusti and MP Motorsport had already begun to find a strong rhythm.
Focusing on car and driver development
While outright lap time naturally draws attention, Giusti explained that the main goal in Jerez was not simply to be fastest, but to evolve both the car and his driving. The team entered the test with a structured programme of technical trials and setup experiments designed to prepare for next year’s campaign.
“We have a few things to test on the car in Jerez,” he explained, emphasising that the team’s work was far from complete. “Then I hope it will rain a bit in Barcelona and Imola, because it was not a strong point this year. So we need to improve that, but I think we are doing a good job today, so let’s continue like this.”
Giusti also spoke candidly about the importance of using every session to refine his technique and mindset, underlining a growing maturity as a driver. His satisfaction was clear — not just with raw pace, but with the progress made in key areas like qualifying and race simulations, both of which were weaker spots earlier in his career.
“As a driver, you need to be trying to improve things on your driving in every session, so that you can be better. But I think I did a good day, the race sim and quali sim were quite good, which was not my best part last year, it was kind of hard, so it feels good to be fast.”
Building on a promising rookie season
Giusti’s rookie year in F3 saw him collect two podiums and finish tenth overall in the Drivers’ Championship, a result that highlighted both his talent and his potential for growth. Staying with MP Motorsport for another year, he explained, gives him the stability needed to take the next step forward.
“I think it’s good to stay in a team for another year,” he said thoughtfully. “Doing two years in the same Championship, same team, same people, so it’s good consistency. I would say, we have a great lineup with one of the best rookies and a good second year, so that’s good.”
That continuity, combined with the team’s strong internal chemistry, could prove decisive. MP Motorsport’s 2026 line-up blends youthful energy with experience, allowing drivers to learn from one another while maintaining a collective focus on improvement. For Giusti, the ability to build on existing relationships with engineers, mechanics, and team management means less time adapting and more time extracting performance — a key factor in a series as competitive as F3.
Looking ahead to Day 2
As testing continues, Giusti and his team have outlined a clear plan for the second day in Jerez. With one final set of hard tyres left unused, the Frenchman was already preparing for a mix of short qualifying-style runs and longer endurance stints to gather further data.
“Honestly, it’s both quali and long runs,” he concluded. “We will put the new tyre we have saved in the garage and then we will do some long runs in the afternoon again, so more long runs tomorrow. But it will be exciting to put on the new tyre on the track to go faster.”
