Del Pino: ‘Getting into rhythm will be vital for next part of 2026’

Bruno del Pino emerged from Round 1 as one of the big winners having taken to the top step in the first Sprint Race in 2026.

The Van Amersfoort Racing driver says that the team is now looking to push on with the momentum they gained in Australia, but says the break has also been a useful, albeit a slightly duller, period following the opening round.

“It has been a bit boring because I haven't touched the car since Melbourne,” he explained. “But I’ve just been training to put myself in a good situation heading into the European campaign. So, very excited.

“It's been a confidence boost, though, all this time that we have been without racing. You have a bad weekend in Melbourne, then you have all of the negativity to deal with, but since we did a good job and I think we're doing quite good so far, it's just been quite positive.

“I’m quite confident heading towards the European campaign. So, with the team, we've been just working hard like before the start of the season. Now it’s about keeping it that way.”

Currently sat second in the Drivers’ Championship after adding more points to his tally in Sunday’s Feature Race around Albert Park including a fastest lap point, del Pino says VAR is in a great position currently.

With the looming in-season test ahead of Round 2 in Monte-Carlo, the Spanish driver says the two days will be vitally important in order to hit the ground running around one of, if not the toughest venue on the F3 calendar.

From there, it’s all about generating a positive wave of momentum to carry into the next phase of the season, where races are happening thick and fast.

“For me, it's very, very important because I haven't done a test, and I haven't touched a car since Melbourne. So, going into Monaco straight without testing will be basically like an impossible.

“But because I have the chance to drive in Austria, I'm just going to make full use to try and get back into the rhythm, trying to push to the limit in Monaco. Once the season restarts in Monaco, a whole bunch of rounds then come.

“Trying to do the job from Monaco onwards will be about trying to keep a rhythm, to be consistent. Because we have basically the entire calendar compressed into two months, it's very important that we can maximise everything and just be on a good rhythm, try not to make mistakes and try and maximise the points every weekend.”

Looking at the team’s start to the 2026 season and taking into account the experience he has under his belt, del Pino says he and the team are squarely focused on their own progress, and expect rivals to hit back in the coming rounds.

Still, the VAR driver is confident that he can achieve similar results to Melbourne moving forward, and that every lap will count even at this very early stage of the season.

“I think we can be at the front. Of course, it's early to say that, we’ve only had one round and there are very, very good teams with very, very good drivers. They’re going to make it difficult, but I think we're doing a good job.

“The engineers and all the staff are also doing a good job. So it's just putting the car in a good spot, the lap together in qualifying and then trying to maximise every single opportunity we have because the championship is very tight, and it comes to you in the details.”