Maciej Gładysz prepares to step onto the FIA Formula 3 stage in 2026 with ART Grand Prix, embracing both the challenge and opportunity of his rookie campaign. The Polish driver, born in Tarnów, arrives after a strong rise through Spanish F4 and Eurocup-3, where he claimed victories and consistently fought at the front. Now, as he transitions to the highly competitive environment of the 2026 F3 Championship, Gładysz focuses firmly on learning, adaptation and measured progress with ART Grand Prix, alongside teammates Taito Kato and Kanato Le.
Speaking during a pre-season press conference attended by Pit Debrief, the 17-year-old outlined his mindset heading into Melbourne and reflected on the demands of racing at this level.
Gładysz confident despite all-rookie dynamic at ART for 2026 F3 season
ART fields a rookie trio in 2026, a factor that initially caused Gładysz to reflect on the value of experience in such a demanding championship. Without a seasoned benchmark inside the team, early-season learning relies heavily on internal cooperation and shared analysis. In response to a question by Pit Debrief, he admitted that his confidence evolved significantly after winter testing in Barcelona.
“Yeah, as Taito said, I mean, we are quite confident coming into Melbourne. I mean, we are three rookies. And at the beginning, maybe I wasn’t so confident because, you know, having some experienced driver would be good.”
Despite that early hesitation, the team quickly found rhythm during pre-season testing in Barcelona. Strong Qualifying simulations and encouraging race runs helped shift his outlook.
“But so far, we’ve been working really well. We’ve been very competitive in the test in Barcelona. We’re very strong in the Quali runs and Race runs. So it’s a good thing coming into Melbourne, and, yeah, let’s see how it goes. It’s a completely different track, but, yeah, it will be a good one. I hope so.”
Gładysz emphasised collaboration and performance as twin pillars of early optimism. While he recognises that Melbourne presents a unique challenge, he believes the preparation phase has positioned ART strongly.
Gładysz aims to let the season unfold naturally
Despite encouraging signs, Gładysz has adopted a composed and patient approach to his 2026 campaign. Although pre-season testing in Barcelona exceeded his initial expectations — a promising indicator for the year ahead — he remains focused on steady development rather than bold predictions. He explained that pre-season testing exceeded his own expectations, subtly increasing his belief ahead of Round 1.
“Yeah, I think maybe the second thing you asked, so maybe find out how it goes. Yeah, let’s see. I mean, I don’t have any expectations yet. To be honest, before the test, I wasn’t going as confident as I should have gone, and yeah, it went really well. So maybe I have already some expectations for the Round 1, but so far I’m going very calm and just enjoying it.”
Adapting to tyre degradation and extreme competitiveness
Despite his improved confidence, Gładysz remains aware of the challenges ahead. The step up to F3 introduces technical demands that differ markedly from his previous categories. Chief among them is tyre management across race distances — a factor that significantly reshapes race strategy and driving approach.
“Yeah, and for me, I think the biggest thing that surprised me was tyre degradation in race runs. That is actually a big difference compared to what I raced before.”
Beyond tyre behaviour, he also underlined the extraordinary competitiveness of the field. In F3, marginal gains can produce dramatic shifts in position, particularly in Qualifying.
“And, yeah, as Kanato and Taito said, the field is super competitive. It’s super close. I mean, if you gain one extra tenth in the Qualifying, you can go from, I don’t know, 20th position to already top 10. So, it’s super close, and it’s important to put all that up together.”
His assessment captures the essence of the championship: precision matters. Every tenth counts, and the ability to combine tyre management, Qualifying execution and race consistency defines success.
Now, as he embarks on his 2026 F3 campaign with ART Grand Prix, Gładysz aims to balance early confidence with continued collaborative growth, determined to lay the foundations for a strong start to his F3 career.
