A mixture of sweet and salty: Bruno del Pino’s Imola Weekend Debrief

20 May 2025

MP Motorsport’s Bruno del Pino achieved his first FIA Formula 3 podium in the Imola Sprint Race, but an incident in the Feature dented his hopes of scoring points.

Overall, the rookie driver was happy with how things went even if a little disappointed by his Sunday results. The Spaniard’s eyes are now set on two big weeks, the first in Monte Carlo and then a home weekend in Barcelona.

THE FIRST F3 PODIUM

“I think it's a sweet and salty weekend for me. In Qualifying, we lacked a bit of pace, so it could have been a bit better. We started first in the Sprint and finished second with really good pace as well, a first podium in F3 which was really nice.

“The first podium felt nice. A Sprint, not a Feature podium, which may feel nicer, but I know we are going to get there soon with the improvements we are doing race by race.

“So it gives me a lot of confidence, which makes me ready to improve to get the next podium and hopefully some victories, and in the Feature Race which is the most important. But a podium at the end of the day is a podium, and it shows we are improving a lot, race by race.”

Del Pino achieved his maiden Formula 3 podium in the Imola Sprint Race

FEATURE RACE RESULT

“On Sunday, we had amazing pace. We were catching up to the driver in front and then I think on Lap 10 or 11 I had a puncture because of contact with Nikola Tsolov at T17.

“This made me come into the pit lane, which is the salty feeling of the weekend because we had really good pace. I was following the rhythm of my teammates, who finished in the points, so points were there to finish in the top 10.

“But that forced me to go into the pit lane, I had to change tyres and we started the race again, so that's the salty feeling. But overall, quite happy with the result, we grabbed points and experience for the next race in Monaco.”

MP MOTORSPORT’S PERFORMANCE

“I think we have a strong lineup. My two teammates are in F1 Academies, so it's good for me to learn, to also compare with them. I think also so far this season, we have done a good job, the team have done well to put the car in a good window since the first round.

“Melbourne is a bit of a different weekend compared to the last few. I think we showed the pace that has been there, the race pace especially has been really strong. This Feature wasn't the best for me, but we are really close to each other, so it really shows how competitive MP is at the moment.”

Del Pino is looking forward to the next two rounds in Monte Carlo and his home race weekend in Barcelona

MONTE CARLO AND BARCELONA

“I am really excited. Monaco is a completely different track to this one, it's a street track, which is a bit of a rollercoaster, so it's going to be a tricky weekend there. But we gained a lot of confidence and information to improve for the next race.

“Monaco is one of the historical tracks, so it's one I am really looking forward too. At the same time, I would like to race in Barcelona, which is after Monaco, my home race weekend, so I am really looking forward to that.

“There's Monaco in between, that's the next round, so it's the one I am looking forward to putting my objectives on the table, improving there and then Barcelona. Really excited for the incredible weekend ahead.”