Strong Spielberg weekend can be a ‘boost’ for MP after difficult season says Giusti

Alessandro Giusti is hoping a return to Spielberg can give him and MP Motorsport the positive boost they need after a tough start to 2026.

The Frenchman came into the season off the back of a strong rookie campaign where he finished 10th in the Standings and achieved two podiums – one of those being in Austria.

But so far as a team, Giusti and MP have struggled for form, with the second-year driver having scored just 13 points this season and he heads to Spielberg 13th in the Standings.

“I'm feeling great,” Giusti said previewing the weekend. “The second back-to-back of the season, and I’m excited to get out on track in Spielberg.

“I like the track a lot and it's been quite successful for me. Let's see if we can have a good weekend. Last year was quite a good weekend.

“We had a P2 in the Sprint, but we were a bit unfortunate in the Feature Race. I was running in like P6, P7, P8, on Lap two or three, and then I had a bit of an issue on the anti-stall. But clearly the pace was there last year.

“It's not been an easy season for everyone at MP. We're working hard to get back to the front and we will try to test things and improve for the next few rounds.

"I hope we'll find something, and we'll get back to the front shortly. Let's see this weekend, which is really different to Barcelona. Let’s see if we can at least fight for a good position.”

Giusti, MP and the rest of the paddock tested in Spielberg last month, and the Williams Driver Academy member says there were encouraging signs across those two days of running.

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“Testing went quite well, to be honest,” said Giusti. “We tested quite a few things after Melbourne and it was positive. We had quite a good pace and I think Tuukka was near the top on both days.

“So I think the car’s pace was quite good, but let's see on the race weekend. I don't know that because we had a test here everybody will be closer, but for us, this track suits the car better.

“It’s really different track to Barcelona, which is high altitude and it’s quite a short track.”

Spielberg kicks off a run of four rounds in five weeks before the summer break. Not only does Giusti hope to be back fighting at the front at the Red Bull Ring, but he also wants to help build some positive momentum going into the next few weekends.

“We have a few things to test in FP,” Giusti revealed. “So it will be about maximising my driving in FP to see what's good, and what's bad.

“Then have a good clean quali and hope to be in the top eight or top 10, that will be good. You can fight for good positions when you are in the top 12. Last year, the three guys who did P1, P2, P3, they were not even in the top 12.

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“To be in a good position for the races, I would like seventh or eighth, that it’s fine for me. If we can get more, we'll get more and maximise the car.

“But I think a good weekend will give everyone a boost. Then after, we can have a better weekend in Silverstone, Spa and Budapest. Then after you have only two races remaining in the season.

“I would say it's quite important to start building up now and getting back to the pace we had last year.”