Interview
Racing in Formula 3 will be ‘unreal’ says Kato ahead of 2026 season’s start
Taito Kato says it is a “dream come true” to be racing in Formula 3, as his preparations for the upcoming campaign got off to a strong start at pre-season testing earlier this month in Barcelona.
The ART Grand Prix driver was a constant fixture at the top of the leaderboard on all three days, and was third-fastest when times were at their quickest on Day 2.
Speaking prior to the test getting underway though, Kato spoke of how he was adapting to F3 ahead of the season’s start in Melbourne next month.
“I'm so happy that I get to join the Formula 3 grid,” he said. “It's been my dream from when I was a kid. It might feel a bit unreal, but it's a dream come true, so I'm really happy to join Formula 3.
“I think the Formula 3 competition is quite tight, especially in Qualifying. So that's why it is really, really important to have a good setup in qualifying, and I cannot make any mistakes myself.
“So I think it's quite useful, these three days of tests, to try to adapt to the setup. I need to adapt quite well with the new car. The team and I, we already have quite a good relationship, so we can just focus on Round 1.”
Looking ahead to that opening round in Melbourne, Kato says his preparations for Albert Park and also Bahrain – both venues he has never visited – will be key if he is to achieve the goals he has set for himself.
READ MORE
- 2026 FIA Formula 3 Season: Everything you need to know about Calendar, Drivers and Teams
- ‘I know the goal’ – Slater previews rookie Formula 3 campaign and talks Audi F1 signing
“I've never driven in Melbourne and Bahrain as well,” he explained. “But I'm driving a lot in the simulator, so I have confidence for Round 1 and Round 2. For the moment, the simulator is quite good. So I think I don't need a lot of laps.
“I think I can adapt with only the FP, so I think it's not a big issue for Round 1 and Round 2. My target is to fight for the top five, and that will give me confidence for Round 3, when we get back to Europe.”
When asked whether he has similar goals for the season as he had for the first two rounds, Kato revealed that he had. However, he is taking a methodical approach to the 2026 campaign as a whole.
“I would say my target is each round,” said Kato. “I'm not thinking about the Championship right now.
“I’m just focused on each round. I think we need to improve step-by-step at each round, because this series is quite a high-level competition.
“For sure my target is the Championship. But for the moment, I’m just focused on the winter rounds.”