Toto Wolff wants to ‘talk more’ about Formula 3 race winner joining the Mercedes academy

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has opened conversations with Formula 3 race winner Bruno del Pino at the Australian Grand Prix.

The 2026 season opener was a huge success for the Brackley outfit, as George Russell won the race from pole position. He fended off the Ferraris to claim victory, with Kimi Antonelli securing a Mercedes 1-2.

Mercedes claim a one-two finish to start F1’s new era! Which driver stands out from the top 10 of the Australian Grand Prix?

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Charles Leclerc felt Mercedes’ pace was not as strong as he thought it would be after pre-season testing. It opens up a tense battle between the Silver Arrows and Ferrari in 2026, but Wolff has also caused some intrigue off the track.

The Australian Grand Prix marked the opening rounds of the Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships, and Wolff was seen in conversations with one of the weekend’s race winners.

Toto Wolff wants to ‘talk more’ with Bruno del Pino after Formula 3 race win in Australia

A report from Motorsport Espana details that the Mercedes boss was introduced to F3 driver del Pino over the weekend by his uncle, former F1 driver and Aston Martin ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa.

It was revealed by de la Rosa that the young Spaniard had ‘asked Wolff about a place in the Mercedes academy’. The Austrian responded by saying that they should ‘have a coffee to talk more.’

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On the conversation, del Pino said: “You have to seize every moment. Results are obviously the most important thing, and you have to work hard both on and off the track.

“And when opportunities like these arise, you have to take advantage of them. I’m here to fight, and I’m going to try to seize every little opportunity that comes my way.”

Del Pino claimed his first F3 win at the weekend, taking victory in the Sprint race. He now has his eyes set on a move to Mercedes, who already have Frederik Vesti, Theo Pourchaire and F2 Sprint winner Joshua Durksen on their books.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff

Who is Bruno del Pino?

Starting his racing in 2022 in Spanish Formula 4, del Pino moved up to Eurocup-3 with MP Motorsport the following year.

In 2024, he secured three wins and eight podiums and finished third in the standings, earning him a move to FIA F3 in 2025. Racing again with MP Motorsport, he had a tough debut season, finishing 23rd in the standings with one podium and four points finishes.

Now racing with Van Amersfoort, the Spaniard has started 2026 with a bang, winning the first Sprint race of the season. Finishing fourth in the feature race, del Pino sits third in the championship after the opening weekend in Australia.