MP Motorsport retain Collet for 2022

MP Motorsport have retained Brazilian racer Caio Collet for his second season in Formula 3, announcing that the Alpine junior will join Alex Smolyar at the Dutch squad.

Collet enjoyed a positive debut season with MP, finishing as the second-strongest rookie in ninth place. The 19-year-old from São Paulo notched a podium in his very first race at Barcelona before adding a second in Round 2 at Le Castellet.

After a tricky spell of one points’ finish in six races following his podium at Le Castellet, Collet went on to finish in the top five in six of the final eight races.

Collet remained with MP for post-season testing in Valencia and finished in the top 10 in five of the six sessions.

“I’m very happy to continue in FIA F3 with MP Motorsport and the enduring support of the Alpine Academy”, said Collet. “We were strong in 2021 – and that was while taking on many accomplished drivers in an intensely competitive championship.

“With the knowledge that I have gained in my first season, I’m very much aiming to improve on last year’s results. I’m also looking forward to again racing in the special atmosphere of the Grand Prix weekends, and in front of the F1 teams.”

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In his first full season of single-seater racing, Collet won the 2018 French Formula 4 title, taking seven wins and 11 podiums from 20 races.

He then stepped up to Formula Renault Eurocup for 2019, placing fifth in his rookie year and second to Victor Martins in his sophomore year, scoring 18 podiums and five wins across the two campaigns, before making the jump to F3.

MP Motorsport Team Principal Sander Dorsman added: “Caio staying with us for a second year is a massive coup. Last year, with three rookies, Caio being one of them, we showed that we were right on the pace with the longer-serving top runners in the series and took home a lot of points to bag a fighting fourth in the Team’s Championship.

“Building on Caio’s talent and increased experience, and teaming him up with Alex, hands us a very strong package for 2022. I can’t wait to attack the season with these guys.”