‘Improvements across the board’ and aiming to end on a high: Bruno del Pino on his F3 season so far
Bruno Del Pino analyses his FIA Formula 3 season so far and targets a strong finish on home soil in Madrid
It has been an up and down season for Bruno Del Pino so far in 2026, with the Van Amersfoort Racing driver flying out the gates but then experiencing a tougher period.
The Spaniard sits ninth in the Standings, 10 points adrift of P6 going into the final two rounds, and believes he can return to the podium and finish on a high note.
Ahead of the summer break, the VAR driver went into depth analysing his season so far, and what to expect when racing returns in Monza.
"I think we can take many positives,” he stated. “I think we've shown that we are very strong, we've shown that we can be up there.
"The last three rounds, many factors, from my side and external factors have also impacted things, but I think even with that, we've shown that we could fight up there.
"We still have two rounds to go and it will still be positive overall if we put things together, which I think we will. So, I'm happy with the job done so far, I'm happy with myself and I think we can still continue to go on and get good results before the end of the year."
Del Pino remains optimistic that he can get his season back on track and finish higher in the order, having been in and around the top five in the Standings for much of the early phase of the year.
"I had been top five for basically the entire season. I demonstrated that I was there, it’s just been these last few rounds that went off course. 10 points from sixth and I think even fifth is within reach. It's doable and I'm very positive that we can get the job done.”
The summer break comes ahead of the final two rounds and for the Spaniard, he says it could have come sooner. But, he will be taking the chance to reset himself and prepare as much as possible for the final double-header of the year.
That of course includes a finale and pair of Feature Races in his home city of Madrid. Del Pino says it could make all the difference as he will be feeling the support around him that weekend.
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"I mean, if it was me, it could have come after Barcelona or Spielberg when things started to go south a bit.
"It's a good moment to have a break. We've been non-stop racing and going back to the factory for so many weeks, I think sometimes you need a bit of a recharge.
“Of course, if I could drive a car every day of the year, I'll drive a car. But, it's also good to relax a bit, reflect upon what went well, what didn't and reset for the last two and a half rounds.
"We're going to do the best we can to achieve everything that is possible and keep on with the progress because every race is a way to outdo yourself. And I think we can do a really good job, as we've shown, and try to finish the championship in style and with maximising everything.
"I had a special edition helmet in Barcelona. I think I'm going to present a new one in Madrid, which is very special. I live in Madrid, it's the city my father was born in.
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“It's great, finishing the season there, being able to go and relax at your house every single day, get all your family and friends together to the last dance. Because you never know what's going to happen next year.”
Del Pino is in his second year of FIA Formula 3, and says he feels he has made great strides since his rookie campaign in 2025.
The Spaniard says he is a ‘more complete driver’ in comparison to the one that debuted in the Championship over a year ago now, but that there’s still things he and his team can improve in the final rounds of this season to end on a high.
"It's just been more complete, being more under control of what I can achieve. Of course, with many more points, it also motivates me, knowing that I've been working as hard as I can to do it.
“My position in the championship has improved, so overall, I think it has been a big, big improvement. Coming into F3, you're fighting against top drivers at this stage of their careers, so it's obviously very difficult.
“So that year of experience has also helped me a lot, especially in the beginning of the year where I knew what to expect on the new tracks that maybe some rookies didn't expect."
“It's very important for me because you're in a moment in your career where F2 is right there, and then you look to F1. The window is getting very small. So every option - it's more limited every year that goes by.
"So I will be trying to finish the season in the best possible way, with all the support from family and friends which will be really, really important for me."
