Despite it being his FIA Formula 3 debut, MP Motorsport’s Alessandro Giusti went into the 2025 Melbourne F3 round optimistic that he would be able to fight for points. While speaking to select media, including Pit Debrief, the Italian driver admitted that he expected a trick weekend, especially with rain forecast for Sunday, adding another challenge to the already difficult Melbourne circuit. While Giusti expected to be able to rely on the data collected from his wet-weather running in the Barcelona pre-season tests, he highlighted the importance of adapting and improving throughout the weekend.
“Yeah, tricky weekend, I think, with the rain on Sunday. It could be tricky, but, yeah, to adapt, you just have the data from the last day in Barcelona. I try to improve from there and, yeah, try to have the best time possible.”
Giusti expected an “interesting meeting” in Melbourne
With tricky conditions predicted and with the general inexperience of the grid with the new 2025 car, Giusti expected “an interesting meeting” around the Albert Park Circuit. Despite this, he, in response to a question from Pit Debrief, reiterated that the drivers would need to do their best to adapt to the conditions, and be “as fast as possible.”
“For sure it will be an interesting meeting. New car, new type of rookies. Melbourne’s first round of the year. The medium tyre, which we never test in this car. Yeah, for sure it will be interesting. And we have to adapt well to the track and the mediums. And yeah, try to be as fast as possible.”
Adapting to car the “trickiest part” for Melbourne Round
When asked what he believed would be the trickiest part of racing in Melbourne on his F3 debut weekend, Giusti explained that adapting to the car, and especially the new medium tyre would potentially be the most challenging given his relative inexperience.
“First, I think the trickiest part will be to adapt well to the car. And the medium tyre, which we never test. And as well the race [degradation]. We saw a lot of [degradation] last year. So yeah, adapt well.”
In response to a question from Pit Debrief about MP Motorsport’s approach to the race given their previous difficulties at the Albert Park Circuit, Giusti stated that he believed that the new car would reset things a bit, therefore preventing any true comparison with previous years.
“Yeah, I think the new car resets a bit everything. It’s a new challenge, so I think to compare to last year is not good. It’s better to adapt well [to] the car, I would say. “
Despite his need to adapt to the new car, and to the rigours of racing in F3, Giusti stated that he was excited to race in Melbourne, having waited for the opportunity for a long time.
“Yeah, it’s amazing and I feel excited. It’s been a long wait. So excited to start in Melbourne, which I love the country. It was so nice. And yeah, excited to race.”
Partnership with WIlliams Driver Academy “very useful”
Giusti will not just represent MP Motorsport in F3 this season, having joined the Williams Driver Academy in January 2024. Giusti believes that being a part of the Williams Driver Academy has been beneficial to both his mental and physical development as a driver.
“Yeah, to be part of an academy, mentally, physically. We have a trainer, so that’s a good thing. Especially, it’s easier with an academy.”
These resources helped Giusti prepare for his F3 debut in Melbourne as they had helped him overcome any jetlag associated with the long trip to Australia.
“Yeah, I think it worked pretty well,” he replied when asked about his plan to manage jetlag, “We had a small plan with my physio to be good in Melbourne with the jet lag and I think it worked well.”
He added that being a part of a historical team like Williams Racing was “very good” and “very useful” for his development.
“Also, to be part of a team which is historic, like Williams, is very good. So, yeah, very useful.”
He later added that he felt “very special” to be able to work with Williams Racing, reiterating the help that they had provided him with throughout his time with them. This help, he noted, had included time on an F1 simulator which had been a “big help” for his F3 preparations.
“Yeah, I feel very special to work with Williams, as you said. It’s a historic team. And yeah, as well, as I said, it’s a big help. We got some [simulator] sessions on the F1 simulator, which is quite nice to play the F1 car on some tracks. It’s a big help.”
