Now at the end of his second season as a Williams Racing Driver Academy member, Alessandro Giusti has enjoyed a year supporting F1's Grands Prix.
Joining FIA Formula 3, Sandro's rookie campaign has seen him claim two more trophies for his mantelpiece, a respectable P10 finish in the standings, and an awful lot of experience to take forwards.
With 10 race weekends in an all-new chassis for everyone this year, how does our 19-year-old Frenchman reflect on his maiden F3 season? We caught up with him to talk through it all.
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Stepping Up
For someone who had never been to a Formula 1 Grand Prix until this year, heading across the planet was quite a way to settle into a new championship for Sandro:
"2025 was really different to FRECA (Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine). First the country... I've never been to Australia. Then the Formula 1 weekend, which is really different to FRECA.
"You have so many people watching the race, so much infrastructure. So it was really different. Even on track. Not only Melbourne, the track too.
"The white lines are really white. All the panels, everything is painted with sponsors. So the tracks look very different. Even the kerbs are well painted.
"It was quite good to be in an F1 weekend, to see when you do track walks all the drivers you have in F1. Some I raced with two, three years ago, so it’s good to see them.
"I think it was a bit of a frustrating year. But as well, I think I learned a lot during this year. There were a lot of positives.
"The pace was really good, and now we need to work on something with the team for next year to fight at the front, or at least for the title.
"The improvement from me and the team I think was there, but we still need to make those little two-three turns in qualifying to be at the front."
Remembering the Highs
A regular points finisher had Sandro scoring a top-10 result in 13 of the 19 races that went ahead and only one DNF all year. Even with that consistency, the two podium trips in Spain and Austria were standout moments:
"Barcelona was good from the beginning. I think in free practice I was already P2 or P3. It’s not a track that I like... but it was the best track of the year in terms of points.
"Then in qualifying I did a clean lap for P6. In the sprint I started P7, I went to P6 because I nearly had a crash with my teammate in T3 because I was nearly going for P2, and I went back to P11. So it was a bit painful at the time.
"And in the feature race, P6 to P3. So it was quite nice. And on top of that, PSG won the [UEFA Champions League] final!"
"For Austria, we had a great car. The pace was good. I made a small mistake in quali which meant we started P11. I think we could have been in the top five or top three, would have been better.
"In the sprint race we didn’t put the new tyres and we still finished P2, so we had good pace."
See Sandro's Spielberg podium celebrations as F3 supported Alex and Carlos in the 2025 Austrian GP
Support from Williams
With Luke Browning and Victor Martins wearing the W in F2, Sandro is not alone in our Academy supporting F1, but he is our sole driver in F3. He's represented us well in 2025, but how has Williams helped him?
"To have Williams behind is a help on all fronts. The biggest one is to have a physio who is on track with you, preparing the season with you physically. And you have a mental coach.
"So everything when you go into the season, you feel really ready. And then in the F1 weekends, I can see Sven [Smeets, Atlassian Williams Racing’s Sporting Director] and some guys from Williams to discuss about everything.
"You also have the training camp before the season, and in the middle. You have the sim at Williams, which is quite important for the learning.
"Especially to learn the tracks I didn’t know. For Melbourne, a track I didn't know and Bahrain. So it was good to jump in the sim.
"Normally I speak to Sven before the weekend. Like on Thursday he comes to the tent and we talk about the previous weekend and the next weekend.
"I see him before the sessions because I’m in the F1 pit lane, so he’s there. I just have to go outside the garage and I see him.
"Sometimes it’s a bit early in the feature race sometimes, but he’s there. So I say hi, and then I race."
Eyes Forward
Looking ahead to 2026 for a sophomore season is already on Sandro's mind, especially after being one of the earliest announced F3 drivers for next year.
He's remaining with MP Motorsport and will have Tuukka Taponen and Eurocup-3 champion Mattia Colnaghi alongside him in the team.
"Honestly, I think we’ll have a great line-up with great drivers, so it's good. I feel comfortable. I feel like… not a small family, but a big family.
"So, it’s very good. I feel confident in MP. I think we can make some good improvements during the winter and come back stronger for next season.
"When we signed early it’s always good, because it removes some pressure because you know it’s already done for next year. The contract is signed.
"Going with MP next year, I think we need to improve a few things in the test and we’ll be at the front in Melbourne."
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