Kato takes maiden Sprint win at Monza, Slater extends championship lead

Monza, March 8, 2026 – Japanese driver Taito Kato of ART Grand Prix delivered an impressive performance to claim his first-ever F3 victory in the Sprint Race at the high-speed Monza circuit. Starting from 9th on the grid, Kato overtook eight rivals to finish first, marking an important milestone for the 19-year-old Japanese talent. Meanwhile, Freddie Slater of TRIDENT finished second despite starting 12th, extending his championship lead to 17 points over his nearest rival. The 15-lap Sprint Race took place under clear skies, with ideal track temperatures for medium tires. From the start, Kato made an excellent getaway, moving up to 6th place by exploiting the top speed of the ART Grand Prix car on the longest straight in F3 history. He maintained his attacking momentum, passing Mattia Colnaghi (MP Motorsport) and Enzo Deligny (Van Amersfoort Racing) on laps 4 and 6 respectively. By lap 8, Kato was closing in on the leading pack consisting of Alessandro Giusti (MP Motorsport) and Hiyu Yamakoshi (Van Amersfoort Racing). Giusti, who led most of the race, came under heavy pressure from Kato as the laps wound down. On lap 12, Kato made a decisive overtake at Curva Grande, using DRS and slipstream advantage to take the lead. From there, the Japanese driver made no mistakes, successfully defending his position against the charging Slater – who himself staged a remarkable comeback from 12th to 2nd. Slater, the championship leader, proved his title contender status. He overtook ten drivers in just 15 laps, including difficult passes at the Ascari chicane and Parabolica. Although he couldn't threaten Kato in the final laps, Slater still scored 9 valuable points, raising his total to 87, 17 points ahead of second-placed Hiyu Yamakoshi. Yamakoshi finished third, giving Van Amersfoort Racing a podium. Kato's ART Grand Prix teammate Kanato Le finished only 11th in the Sprint but secured 2nd on the grid for Sunday's Feature Race thanks to impressive qualifying. Le will start alongside Slater on the front row, promising an exciting duel between ART and TRIDENT drivers. Among other teams, MP Motorsport had a disappointing day as Giusti, who led most of the race, faded to 5th. Teammate Colnaghi finished 6th. DAMS Lucas Oil scored points with Nicola Lacorte (9th) and Bruno del Pino (10th). Enzo Deligny of Van Amersfoort finished 8th, giving the team two cars in the top 10. Kato's first Sprint win is a positive signal for ART Grand Prix, currently fighting for 3rd in the constructors' standings. Although not yet consistent, Kato has shown superior potential in direct racing. With Monza's home advantage favoring top speed, ART drivers made good use of engine power. Sunday's Feature Race is expected to be decisive for the championship. Slater, starting from pole, will aim for his 4th win of the season. Kanato Le, starting 2nd, poses a direct threat from the front row. Kato, starting lower (9th due to Sprint result reversal), could repeat his comeback if he maintains form. Current standings: Slater (87 points), Yamakoshi (70), Kato (55), Giusti (50). With five rounds remaining, every point counts. Monza's long straights and high-speed corners often create unpredictable races. Sunday's weather forecast includes possible light rain, which could shake up strategies and create surprises. Speaking after the race, Kato was emotional: "This is the best moment of my career. Starting from 9th, I only thought about scoring points, but the car was perfect. Thanks to ART for trusting me." Slater remained cautious: "A tough race but I'm happy with 2nd. Kato drove brilliantly. The Feature Race will be another challenge, and I'll focus fully." Strategically, the Sprint Race had no pit stops, so overtaking ability and tire management were key. Kato and Slater both showed excellent overtaking skills, especially on the long straights. However, MP Motorsport's weakness was Giusti's inability to maintain pace after being passed, losing two more positions at the end. Analysts believe Kato's win is not just a personal achievement but a signal that ART Grand Prix has regained form after a difficult early season. The French team currently sits 4th in the constructors' standings, 23 points behind leader TRIDENT. With Kato's improvement and Le's consistency, ART could challenge for 2nd. The Sprint Race ended without any penalties, and all cars finished. This reflects high discipline among drivers on the notoriously tricky Monza circuit. The first lap was clean with no major incidents, allowing a smooth race. Overall, the Monza Sprint delivered impressive performances, especially Kato's and Slater's comebacks. The Feature Race promises even more drama with pit stops and strategy playing key roles. Fans await the showdown between Slater and Le on the front row, along with Kato's potential to surprise again. We will continue to cover the Feature Race at 14:00 local time on Sunday.