ART Grand Prix’s Taito Kato secured the first pole position of his FIA Formula 3 career in the opening Qualifying session of the 2026 Madrid round, continuing his strong run after an encouraging weekend at Monza.
Kato produced the fastest lap around the Madring to lead Rodin Motorsport’s Pedro Clerot and MP Motorsport’s Tuukka Taponen. The result also gave ART Grand Prix its first F3 pole since Hungary in 2024 and rewarded Kato after several occasions earlier in the season when he felt he had the pace but failed to put every element together.
The Japanese driver also embraced the challenge presented by F3’s first Qualifying session at the new Madrid circuit. With the walls close and little margin for error, Kato relied on his confidence in the car and committed fully to his fastest lap.
Kato celebrates breakthrough F3 pole in Madrid
Kato entered Madrid after a positive Monza weekend and carried that momentum into the first Qualifying session at the Madring. He praised the mindset within ART Grand Prix and highlighted how much confidence the car gave him as he pushed close to the barriers.
The circuit demanded commitment throughout the lap, but Kato enjoyed that challenge rather than allowing the narrow margins to limit his approach. His willingness to push right to the edge ultimately helped him secure his first F3 pole.
“It feels amazing. My first-ever pole position in Formula 3. It was an amazing weekend in Monza, and then back-to-back this weekend in Madrid. I think we have a good mindset, and the car was incredible during qualifying and really fun to drive here. In Madrid, you are really close to the wall. I was pushing on the edge, sometimes kissing the wall. That was really good. Finally, to get pole position, I am very happy with it.”
The result marked an important personal breakthrough for Kato, while it also ended ART Grand Prix’s wait for another pole position in the category.
ART Grand Prix pace finally converts into pole
Although Madrid produced Kato’s first pole, he did not believe the result came from a sudden improvement in the car. Instead, he felt ART Grand Prix had provided him with competitive machinery throughout the year.
However, Kato acknowledged that mistakes, traffic and bad luck had prevented him from converting that pace into pole position previously. Formula 3’s closely matched field also leaves little margin for an imperfect lap, making the ability to combine every element particularly important.
“I think it was really good the whole year. There were just mistakes on my side, some traffic, or a bit of bad luck. Every time in Formula 3, it is really difficult to put everything together in one lap. Also, if you do not have any luck, it is really difficult to get pole position. So, finally, to get pole position in Formula 3, I am happy with the team and just want to say a massive thanks to the team. The car was incredible.”
Kato therefore placed much of the credit with ART Grand Prix while also recognising his own role in earlier missed opportunities. In Madrid, he finally combined the car’s performance with a complete lap when it mattered.
Kato relishes the challenge of the Madring
The first F3 Qualifying session at the Madring gave the drivers a different challenge from the circuits they had raced at earlier in the season. The walls sit close to the racing line, while the layout demands commitment through several high-speed sections.
Kato responded positively to those characteristics and made clear that he enjoyed driving the circuit at Qualifying pace. The combination of speed, risk and proximity to the walls gave him the kind of experience he values as a driver.
“Really good. Really, really fun to drive. The adrenaline was incredible in the car.”
That enjoyment translated directly into Kato’s strongest Qualifying result in Formula 3. After spending much of the season searching for a weekend where everything came together, he delivered when F3 visited Madrid and gave ART Grand Prix a long-awaited return to pole position.
Kato carries Qualifying momentum into the Madrid F3 races
Kato now enters the opening Madrid race from the strongest possible starting position after converting his pace into pole. More importantly, the result reinforced the progress he highlighted after Monza and gave him another strong performance late in the 2026 campaign.
His comments also reflected confidence rather than surprise. Kato believes ART Grand Prix has given him the performance throughout the season, but Madrid finally allowed him to put the necessary pieces together across one decisive Qualifying lap.
With his maiden F3 pole secured, Kato can now turn his attention towards converting that breakthrough into a strong result during the Madrid finale.
