Interview
Del Pino: ‘Start to 2026 strong but we must continue to improve’
After a stellar opening two rounds for Bruno del Pino, the Van Amersfoort Racing driver heads to his first of two home events riding a wave of momentum.
His podium result and P6 in the Monte Carlo Sprint and Feature Races respectively leaves him as the only driver on the grid to have a 100% scoring record so far this season.
Ahead of Barcelona, del Pino says that he and the team are working hard to keep things rolling and believes they can continue their streak this weekend.
“I'm really happy of the start of the season. Of course, I don’t want to get too overexcited because I know that other drivers are, of course, going to have good points and they're going to make it difficult.
“I think aside from the results, outside the track, we've been working very well. And I think if it works and we've been showing our drive, then why change it? So far, we're just trying to keep everything the same until we see that it doesn't work.
“But I think if we keep the work ethic and the rhythm that we have now, for sure we can still manage to get good points and still manage to fight at the top.
“I will just keep focused, try to learn from the mistakes that we have, even though there haven't been that many. But there's always things to improve on. I think we're doing a good job and trying to maximise everything.”
With Barcelona being the first of his two home events in 2026, the VAR driver says while the home crowd will bring extra motivation, his approach to Round 3 remains the same as any other.
While preparations will continue in the same manner as they have done so far this season, he says any podium visit will be that much more special in front of the Spanish crowd.
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“I mean, the fans and the atmosphere, I'm basically staying at my house, which of course makes it special. But I’m approaching it like every other weekend.
“The points are going to be the same and the rivals are the same every weekend. So it doesn't change whether I'm in Barcelona or I'm in Monaco or whatever. I just have to keep the same rhythm that I'm working.
“Of course, it's going to be a bit more special if I get a good result, because of all my people here. But that's why we still have to work hard.”
Van Amersfoort sit second in the Teams’ Standings heading into Barcelona, while del Pino himself is P2 in the Drivers’. He is eager to maintain and improve on that, and says consistency is the key.
Del Pino added that he’s had plenty of advice from his team and uncle Pedro de la Rosa, and believes the start to 2026 has been evidence of it working.
“I'm in a good team here. But we are not beating Campos or TRIDENT right now. Of course, we're very much up there. And if we keep on working like that, we can be fighting with them.
“But, for me, it's about trying to maximise everything that we have, minimising the mistakes. And so far it’s shown up that if you don't make mistakes, you don't need to have a magnificent lap that gets you P1, or make a great move down the inside.
“By just keeping it simple and keeping it within all of the things that you can do. I think that's where you can get the points. And I think so far, it's been like that for us. I'm second in the championship, there's many variables that can change, and many, many other drivers that can make it difficult for me
“But I know, if we continue like this, it's about trying to put everything together, trying to maximise points - my uncle and all of the people I have around me, they just say, ‘points, points, points, every race’. And I think that's what I'm also trying to do.”