‘No complacency’ heading into Melbourne: MP Motorsport Testing Round-Up

MP Motorsport’s work across the 2026 pre-season test in Barcelona has put the team in a promising position heading into the opening round of the year in Melbourne.

The Dutch squad finished fifth in the Teams’ Standings last time around and have hopes and expectations of making a step forward.

Helping them along the way are Oliver Goethe, who returns to the team for another F2 campaign, alongside new arrival Gabriele Minì.

Team Manager Jeremy Cotterill gave his thoughts on how MP was fairing early on, explaining how the team worked across the pre-season test and why nobody is taking anything for granted heading to Australia for Round 1.

“We have been working through our programme, looks okay. Not going to be too excited or too disappointed - it is what it is.

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“We're working through our programme, and it looks okay. A bit of a stoppage on day two, but we had the time to kind of make up for that on day three.

“Admittedly, it did disrupt the test programme, but it is what it is. But as always, we adapt and change the programme and move some things to the afternoon and some things to the morning. Apart from that bit, so far so good.”

There is a mix of continuity and fresh starts at MP this season, with Goethe the constant and Minì the new arrival for 2026.

Both drivers enjoyed high points in what were self-admittedly difficult seasons, but those bright spots mean both enter the new campaign with optimism.

Likewise, Cotterill believes both can go on to better things this time around and says that their work together is already showing positive signs internally.

“Ollie was with the team last year. Gabri's learning, but he’s slotted in really well into the team. Ollie has obviously been with us for the year before, so we know him very well. It's a new dynamic, but not a bad one.

“It's good and everybody seems to be getting along just fine. I'm optimistic about Melbourne, we've gone reasonably well there so far. But certainly, no complacency as far as I'm concerned.”

With the three days of pre-season testing now in the books, teams will be pouring over the data to extract the best possible performance going into the new campaign.

Some of that work won’t be evident immediately, with the MP Team Manager explaining that teams may well go back over things come the mid-season test in Bahrain later this year.

Other items could be put to use once the light goes green in Australia next month, and MP will be hopeful that it propels them forwards and keeps them in contention for regular victories.

“It's things that we are testing on the cars that need to be evaluated. And we'll see whether we think it's worth applying for Melbourne or whether it's something that needs to be revisited, perhaps in Bahrain.

“But there are plenty of things that we're looking to try to improve the car. As I say, it's not an instant decision. It has to then be analysed after the test, once we can look at the data in more detail.”