Matteo De Palo is looking to put a brutal rookie campaign behind him, locking in a move to MP Motorsport for the 2027 Formula 3 season. That change of scenery has already brought a fresh wave of optimism.
Speaking during post-season testing in Jerez, where he wasted no time getting to work with his new squad, the Italian driver made no secret of his satisfaction. “I'm feeling good,” De Palo said after wrapping up his first session. “We just finished now the first session with the new team and I am feeling really good. I’m really enjoying working with them, with the MP team, and also since I’ve been here, we’ve been working quite well together, so let's keep it up.”
The only two times that had everything clean, I don't say that I was lucky or some bad luck, but everything clean without any issues on reliability or stuff like this, I was at the front,
His debut year in the championship finished with a lowly 24th place in the Standings and just seven points to his name. But that cold statistic hides a bitter story of missed chances and heartbreak. De Palo's rookie season was derailed by a series of heavy blows, including technical infringements that stripped him of a glorious victory in the Silverstone Feature Race as well as a front-row start at Monza.
Reflecting on the chaos of the past year, the 19-year-old insists his actual driving was never the problem. Instead, he points to a mountain of hurdles entirely outside of his control. “If I have to be honest with you, individually I was happy about my performances,” he explained. “I felt like when I had the opportunity to perform, I always showed my pace, but then I had too many issues. I cannot even count them.”
When the machinery actually held together, the speed was undeniable. “The only two times that had everything clean, I don't say that I was lucky or some bad luck, but everything clean without any issues on reliability or stuff like this, I was at the front,” De Palo added. Those rare moments of peace served as vital proof to himself, especially during a brutal calendar where disaster seemed to lurk around every corner.
Even when stripped of qualifying results at Spa and Monza due to technical infractions, the raw speed was there for everyone to see. Now, with a clean slate at MP Motorsport, the mindset is entirely fixed on the horizon and the battles ahead. “Yeah of course,” De Palo said when asked about fighting at the front. “We will have another go with MP, and I feel ready for next year.”
