Matteo De Palo’s Silverstone weekend ended in disappointment after he was disqualified from the FIA Formula 3 (F3) Feature Race following the 2026 Silverstone Round.
The TRIDENT rookie crossed the line first after a thrilling battle with teammate Freddie Slater, appearing to secure his maiden Formula 3 victory. However, post-race scrutineering led to his disqualification, promoting ART Grand Prix’s Maciej Gładysz to victory.
At the time of the official FIA Formula 3 post-race press conference, attended by Pit Debrief, De Palo was still the provisional race winner of the F3 Silverstone Feature Race. Speaking before the revised classification, the Italian reflected on what he believed was a breakthrough weekend after a difficult first half of his rookie Formula 3 campaign.
For De Palo, the Silverstone F3 Feature Race victory represented far more than simply standing on the top step of the podium. After showing strong pace throughout the season without the results to match, the Italian admitted the victory felt like a reward for months of perseverance.
“Thank you very much. It feels amazing. Hasn’t been a really easy start of the season for us. We had a lot of issues that didn’t allow to show our potential and our pace.
“But yeah, here in Silverstone everything went, let’s say, normal. And yeah, we managed to get a good quality, good sprint races yesterday and today they win from starting from P5. So yeah, we’re pretty happy about this and all the job we have done.
De Palo’s Feature Race battle
De Palo’s drive through the field was one of the standout performances of the weekend. After making an aggressive start, he quickly worked his way past Louis Sharp, Théophile Naël and Freddie Slater before managing significant front tyre degradation throughout the race.
While many drivers struggled with graining, De Palo explained he initially hadn’t expected the tyres to deteriorate so quickly.
“Yeah, honestly it was, at least for me, quite unexpected the degradation in the front. I did a really good start. I got P4 after three corners. Then yeah, I saw like really, really soon that my pace was there because I was really close to Sharp. Then managed to overtake him after.
“And then yeah, I started to be behind Naël. But again, I was much faster. So I took the opportunity, not thinking a lot about the tyres. The next lap I saw that it was even much quicker than Freddie Slater. So I managed to take the lead quite soon.
“Then yeah, there is where I started focusing on the tyres. But I saw that yeah, they were degrading quite badly from the beginning. That was maybe where I started to worry a bit. But my team said, look, it’s good. Everyone is in the same condition. So keep focused on your job. That’s what I tried to do until the last lap.
The last lap dash to the end
With De Palo spending much of the F3 Feature Race fighting up the field, tyre management continued to be a deciding factor by the end of the race, as well as DRS around the Silverstone Circuit.
“Then yeah, Freddie after some laps with the DRS was able to get closer and overtake me back. I did some laps behind him. And I think it also helped me a bit because following, the tyres were cleaning up a little. So I did four laps behind him and the tyres got in a better shape. And I felt like my pace was back.
“Then yeah, managed to take the lead again. And differently from the first time, I was able to open much more the gap, take a safe gap. Then he managed to get a bit closer. But yeah, the DRS was so powerful. I saw him in the section without DRS. He was a bit far. And then after the DRS zone, he was just right behind me.
“Then the safety car came. I was hoping it would last as long as possible. But yeah, it was fun to have at least one lap at the end. It was a bit of chaos. Temperatures were not there anymore. Tyres were screaming. I also flat spotted massively in the last corner to keep the position. But it was a good defending, I think. But yeah, at the end we got the win. So really happy about the race.”
Attention remains on continual improvements
At the time of the press conference, the result had moved De Palo into the top 10 of the Drivers’ Championship. However, rather than focusing on the standings, he said his attention remained on continual improvement.
“I’m not thinking honestly about the Championship. I think it’s focusing more on the work we have to do. And then yeah, the results are coming as we know. Of course, yeah, we didn’t have points before this round. So it’s not ideal to throw to the bin four rounds for the championship.
“But now I think we get a chance to come back to the top. And we still focus on our work me as a driver, and also as a person. So to be as prepared as possible for the future.”
Much of the F3 Silverstone Feature Race centred around De Palo’s battle with teammate Slater. The pair swapped the lead several times before making contact repeatedly during the final-lap sprint to the flag.
Having raced against Slater throughout their Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) campaign in 2025, De Palo admitted he enjoyed continuing their rivalry in Formula 3.
“Yeah, I think it’s really, really fun and exciting battling together. As, yeah, also last year we battled for all the year long for the championship in FRECA. So it’s fun to continue also here in F3 with, you know, amazing tracks, amazing crowds and still get that adrenaline with him. I think it’s really good.”
De Palo’s highlight from the Feature Race
Asked by Pit Debrief to look beyond the result itself, De Palo found it difficult to choose just one highlight from the race.
“So, yeah, it’s hard to choose, I think, from the start of the race and the last lap. Because the first part was, you know, everything going just perfectly, you know. I was much faster than the others, managed to do five overtakes and take the lead.
“So, yeah, that was quite nice. And also, the last lap, the adrenaline was on the stars, I think, for everyone. And then getting the win and crossing the line, finishing line, P1, was amazing.”
One of the most emotional moments of the press conference came when De Palo reflected on placing his hand over his heart during the Italian national anthem on the podium.
He revealed the opening months of 2026 had been among the most difficult of his career, with several setbacks beyond his control leaving people questioning his ability.
“Nice question. It’s been a really hard start of the season, obviously. I’m getting very sad for things out of my control. But, you know, people maybe started doubting about myself. So, yeah, it was not easy, also mentally.
“But I managed always to keep focussing on myself and also believe in myself. That was the most important thing for me in the past months. Also, yeah, the long break didn’t help. It had been really hard for months for me. But, yeah, this weekend, simply, you know, I feel much lighter now.
“It’s like, yeah, it was a confirmation for me and also all the people that Matteo is still here. He didn’t change anything from last year. And for sure getting today’s win, for sure it’s the most special of my career. Yeah, because it’s in F3 and also for this big relief that I had. Honestly, I’ve been, I think, the most difficult four months in my life. But, yeah, after today, I feel much, much, much, much, much better.”
Although his Silverstone points were later erased from the record books, De Palo said the focus had always been on building consistency rather than chasing championship mathematics.
“Yeah, for sure. Here, we have to, from here, we have to keep going like this, focussing on ourselves, as I said. Keep working. The consistency is the key in this championship. That’s what we’re going to aim for the future.”
The late Safety Car restart
The late Safety Car set up a one-lap shootout to the finish, producing one of the most dramatic endings of a Formula 3 race.
Rather than hoping the race would finish under the Safety Car, De Palo admitted he ultimately wanted the opportunity to fight for the victory on track.
“Yeah, for me… So, I [won’t] lie that the first minutes of the safety car, I was saying to myself, please let this race finish on the safety car, but then I said to me, no, I cannot win with the safety car, I want this last lap. I want to fight for it and I want to cross the line pushing. And yeah, at the end, it gave me even more motivation for the last lap.”
Representing Italy on Formula 1 weekends was another source of pride for the TRIDENT rookie.
Oh yeah, it’s amazing to represent my country, Italy, here in F3. Also getting these amazing results from this weekend with my other Italian teammates, starting from Andrea [Antonelli], that for you guys is Kimi, but we’re friends for a long time and I used to call him Andrea.
“And then Leo [Fornaroli], of course. We did amazing things here in Formula 2 and Formula 3. And he was also with Gabi [Minì] in F2, so it’s really good to share this stage with them and to represent Italy at this level.
The Silverstone Round providing action from start to finish
Silverstone produced two action-packed Formula 3 races across the weekend, something De Palo admitted exceeded even his own expectations.
“Yeah, as Maciej said, I didn’t expect this much of guys battling. Yeah, of course, the last lap was like this because of the safety car restart, but also before that I was watching my mirrors and I had plenty of cars.
“So I think if you were not treating well your tyres and if you were getting a massive degradation, it was basically the end, because if you were starting to lose grip or position, going to the dirt, the chance of losing many positions was quite easy.
“But yeah, from yesterday I think we saw a really good race and today I think it was even better. So yeah, I think this one is one of my favourite tracks and one of the best in the world for sure. It’s so fun driving here with all the high-speed corners and sections.
“And also the racing seems to be really, really nice. So yeah, really it’s a privilege to race in Silverstone. And of course in the F1 weekend.
Finally, when Pit Debrief asked how much confidence results like Silverstone give rookies competing against more experienced Formula 3 drivers, De Palo said belief had never been lacking.
“So yeah, of course the confidence has always been there. Every weekend, even if we’re not getting the results we wanted. But yeah, for sure. These results will give us even more.
“Just give us, as I said before, they confirm that we can be there and we have nothing less than the others. So yeah, for sure something to take into account and bring on for the next races.”
Although the record books ultimately show De Palo leaving Silverstone without the victory, his performance throughout the weekend demonstrated the pace that TRIDENT and the Italian had been searching for all season. The result may have changed, but the confidence gained from fighting at the front could still prove significant as the 2026 Formula 3 campaign continues.
