Positive signs: ART Grand Prix Testing Round-Up

With pre-season testing in the books and focus now turning to Round 1 in Melbourne, one team that will be heading into the opening race of the year with confidence is ART Grand Prix.

The French squad was able to log plenty of mileage with little issue, and new drivers Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak and Kush Maini acclimatised themselves more with the team.

Results-wise, they could both be encouraged as across the three days, both drivers achieved top five results, including when Qualifying simulations were the focus on the morning of Day 2.

Heading into the new season, Team Manager Frédéric Guyot said that the team was able to work through their run plan relatively trouble free, with only one Red Flag hindering their Day 3 schedule taking things out of their hands.

READ MORE

• 2026 FIA Formula 2 Season: Everything you need to know about Calendar, Drivers and Teams
• A lot of untapped potential: ART Grand Prix Season Preview

“Overall, the tests have been quite good,” he summarised. “We have two new drivers this season, so we need to get to know each other. We had some good quali runs on the second morning, so that’s positive.

“The third morning was a bit tougher because we had a Red Flag at the wrong moment before we could start push laps on Soft tyres, which was quite bad.

“Long runs in the afternoon were also quite good, so globally, we should be ready for Melbourne. It has been quite a positive test.”

While there is still plenty of work to be done between now and the lights going out in Melbourne, ART look well-placed to carry their positive momentum from testing on into the season.

Guyot was happy with the work the team had carried out but was mindful that positive laptimes in testing don’t automatically translate into strong results.

“First, it's only testing. Secondly, it's Barcelona, which is a specific track. It's a track that drivers know well, they drive a lot here, so you can’t always take away too much.

“The car is maybe not set up the same for the other tracks. So, while it's good to be quick here, let's hope we will be also quick in Melbourne. But that will be a different story. It's a track that the driver doesn't experience anywhere near as often.”