Tuukka Taponen heads into the 2026 F3 season with fresh motivation after a demanding winter that combined preparations for a move to MP Motorsport with mandatory military service in Finland. After finishing ninth in the standings as a rookie in 2025, scoring three podiums but no victories, the Ferrari junior now targets the next step forward with a team that established itself as a frontrunner last season. Speaking to Formula 3 ahead of pre-season testing, Taponen insists he has never felt more motivated.
Military service builds mental edge
Taponen began his compulsory Army service in October and has spent the winter balancing military duties with his racing preparations, with the stint set to conclude in March. Although the unconventional off-season limited his early time with MP Motorsport, it also tested him physically and mentally, sharpening his conditioning and resilience ahead of his return to the cockpit.
“I haven’t been with MP so much over the winter, to be honest, because I’ve been in Finland doing military service with the Army,” Taponen explained.
“So, I started in October, and I’m still doing it until end of March, so I’ve been quite busy here. But, this weekend I will go to MP to start to prepare the season and the pre-season test, and to come back to the basics.”
Beyond the physical challenge, Taponen believes the mental toughness gained through military life has strengthened his mindset, particularly as he contrasts the rigours of service with the enjoyment of driving.
Rookie lessons fuel title ambitions
Taponen’s debut 2025 campaign with ART Grand Prix delivered promising pace but mixed results. Strong qualifying performances and podium finishes in Bahrain, Imola and Spa underlined his potential, yet the absence of a race win left unfinished business.
Now entering his second Formula 3 season, Taponen targets that elusive first victory as a key milestone, backed by MP Motorsport’s recent progress under the new 2026 F3 regulations.
“I’ve been doing a lot of things, which I need to do. Okay, it’s quite hard mentally and physically as well, so I feel like I’m very well prepared for the season,” he said.
“I’ve never been so motivated as I am now, because things we do in the army is not so fun, it is tough. So when I get out of there in the car, I will enjoy it a lot more than usual. Last year wasn’t so easy. It was quite tough for me. I managed to finish second, third, even fourth. But yeah, trying to get that first win this year will be very important. And I think I have a high chance of that this season.”
As part of Ferrari’s junior programme alongside talents such as Oliver Bearman and 2025 Rookie of the Year Rafael Câmara, the stakes remain high as Taponen pushes towards the next level.
Taponen optimistic after post-season F3 tests with MP Motorsport
Taponen’s post-season running with MP Motorsport proved more encouraging than expected, with the team’s strong baseline allowing him to move quickly beyond the basics and explore more experimental setups. He settled into the car almost immediately and showed competitive pace against his rivals, pointing to a promising partnership heading into pre-season testing and the opening round of the 2026 campaign.
“I have my seat fit coming up, just to make sure I’m all comfortable in the car and then I have some sim with the team,” Taponen noted.
“Post-season testing went quite well. We were testing a lot of things, because basically the basics are very good, and MP didn’t need to focus too much to find the basics. So we were trying different things, and I felt quite comfortable with them. Looking at some lap times, which is not so relevant in the testing, it still looked very good. Every time we were on track, we were quite good, compared to other teams. As I said, I’m very highly motivated right now. The last few months have taught me a lot of new things, and I’m more than ready to start the season.”
With a mix of experience and youth around him at MP Motorsport and a winter that tested him in more ways than one, Taponen looks well placed to turn promise into a breakout Formula 3 season.
