| Matteo De Palo | |
|---|---|
 De Palo at the2025 Macau Grand Prix | |
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Born | (2007-11-08)8 November 2007 (age 18) Rome, Italy |
| Formula Regional European Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2024 |
| Current team | Trident |
| Car number | 8 |
| Former teams | Saintéloc Racing |
| Starts | 40 |
| Wins | 4 |
| Podiums | 11 |
| Poles | 3 |
| Fastest laps | 3 |
| Best finish | 2nd in2025 |
| Previous series | |
| 2024–2025 2024–2025 2023 2023 2023 | |
Matteo De Palo (born 8 November 2007) is an Italianracing driver who is set to compete in theFIA Formula 3 Championship forTrident as part of theMcLaren Driver Development Programme.
De Palo was the runner-up in the2025 Formula Regional European Championship for Trident. He previously competed in the2023 F4 Spanish Championship withCampos Racing, finishing fifth overall, and the2024 Formula Regional European Championship withSaintéloc Racing.
De Palo made his car racing debut at the second round inCircuit Ricardo Tormo during the2023 Formula Winter Series.[1] He won the first race on debut, while taking both poles for the round.[2]
In July 2022, De Palo took part in a scouting camp conducted by theFerrari Driver Academy.[3]
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De Palo joinedCampos Racing for the2023 F4 Spanish Championship.[4] He took his only Spanish F4 win of the year during the first round inSpa-Francorchamps, after original winnerValerio Rinicella received a penalty for track limits.[5] A further podium came the next round inAragón where he finished third from pole.[6] He would next stand on the podium during the penultimate round atCircuit Ricardo Tormo, scoring a double podium.[7] Despite only four podiums, his consistent points scoring saw him fifth in the standings, with 171 points.
De Palo took part in the opening round of the2023 Italian F4 Championship withR-ace GP atImola.[8] With ten points, De Palo was ranked 20th in the standings.[9]
De Palo made a cameo appearance in two rounds during the2023 F4 British Championship, where he drove for Phinsys by Argenti.[10]
For 2024, De Palo was promoted to theFormula Regional European Championship withSaintéloc Racing.[11] In the pre-season, he partook in the first two rounds of theFormula Regional Middle East Championship with the team.[12] He scored two points finishes with the highest being a seventh, putting him 18th in the standings.[13] In his main campaign, De Palo scored his first points with fifth in the second round inSpa-Francorchamps.[14] He improved his personal best to fourth during the second race at theRed Bull Ring.[15] With six points finishes, De Palo finished 17th in the drivers' standings with 29 points.
De Palo also took part in theMacau Grand Prix withPHM Racing.[16] In an incident-packed race, De Palo managed to find his way to finish in fifth place, but was disqualified due to a car infringement.[17]
For the final two rounds of theFormula Regional Middle East campaign, De Palo joined the grid withEvans GP.[18] He score points on one occasion, with ninth place during the final round inQatar, placing 19th in the standings.[19]
De Palo remained inFormula Regional Europe for 2025, switching over toTrident for his sophomore campaign.[20] He won the first race of the season at theMisano World Circuit, a maiden win in the series for both him and Trident.[21] He followed this result with a podium in race two, putting him second in the overall standings behindEvan Giltaire.[22] He seized the championship lead next time out inSpa-Francorchamps with a second place.[23] However, he only managed a double sixth place finish inZandvoort that saw him concede the lead toFreddie Slater.[24] Despite this, he took his first pole at theHungaroring,[25] and followed it up with a second win of the campaign to take back the points lead.[26] Despite a second place inPaul Ricard,[27] a double victory from Slater swung favours back to the Briton.[28] After being off the rostrum inImola, De Palo won during the first race inAustria and regained the championship lead,[29] but this was immediately lost with a retirement in race two.[30] He secured his fourth and final victory of the year inBarcelona,[31] and a double rostrum inHockenheim to sit four points behind Slater into the title decider.[32] However, his title chances derailed during the firstMonza race, as an on-track incident necessitated a pit stop, and he finished outside the points.[33] Despite this, he rounded the season with a second place the next day, finishing runner-up in the standings with four wins, two poles and eleven podiums.[34]
Later in the year, De Palo raced in theMacau Grand Prix withR-ace GP.[35]
De Palo is set to make the promotion toFormula 3 for 2026, continuing withTrident alongside hisFRECA rivalFreddie Slater.[36]
In November 2025, De Palo became a part of theMcLaren Driver Development Programme.[37]
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini | NC | |
| 2017 | WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini | 32nd | |
| 46° Trofeo Delle Industrie — 60 Mini | Energy Corse | 10th | |
| WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini | 8th | ||
| WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini | 12th | ||
| ROK Cup International Final — Mini ROK | ASD Giugliano Kart | 25th | |
| 2018 | Andrea Margutti Trophy — 60 Mini | NC | |
| Italian Championship — 60 Mini | 14th | ||
| ROK Cup International Final — Mini ROK | 26th | ||
| 2019 | 24° South Garda Winter Cup — Mini ROK | AV Racing | 4th |
| WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini | 28th | ||
| WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini | NC | ||
| WSK Euro Series — 60 Mini | NC | ||
| ROK Cup Superfinal — Junior ROK | KGT Motorsport | 4th | |
| 48° Trofeo delle Industrie —OKJ | 16th | ||
| WSK Open Cup —OKJ | 53rd | ||
| WSK Final Cup —OKJ | 33rd | ||
| 2020 | WSK Champions Cup —OKJ | KGT Motorsport | 15th |
| WSK Super Master Series —OKJ | NC | ||
| 25° South Garda Winter Cup —OKJ | 10th | ||
| CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy | 5th | ||
| WSK Euro Series —OKJ | Ward Racing | 51st | |
| Andrea Margutti Trophy — X30 Junior | Mixauto Motorsport | 8th | |
| 2021 | WSK Champions Cup —OKJ | KR Motorsport | 24th |
| WSK Super Master Series —OKJ | 14th | ||
| WSK Open Cup —OK | 31st | ||
| Champions of the Future —OKJ | 31st | ||
| FIA Karting European Championship — Junior | 30th | ||
| 2022 | Champions of the Future Winter Series —OK | Kart Republic Motorsport | 15th |
| FIA Karting European Championship —OK | 42nd | ||
| Source:[38] | |||
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Formula Winter Series | Campos Racing | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 6th |
| F4 Spanish Championship | 21 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 171 | 5th | ||
| Italian F4 Championship | R-ace GP | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20th | |
| F4 British Championship | Phinsys by Argenti | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th | |
| 2024 | Formula Regional Middle East Championship | Saintéloc Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 18th |
| Formula Regional European Championship | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 17th | ||
| Macau Grand Prix | PHM Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/a | DSQ | |
| 2025 | Formula Regional Middle East Championship | Evans GP | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 19th |
| Formula Regional European Championship | Trident | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 277 | 2nd | |
| Macau Grand Prix | R-ace GP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/a | 8th | |
| 2026 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | Trident | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD |
* Season still in progress.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Campos Racing | JER 1 | JER 2 | CRT 1 1 | CRT 2 5 | NAV 1 | NAV 2 | CAT 2 | CAT 2 | 6th | 37 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Campos Racing | SPA 1 9 | SPA 2 7 | SPA 3 1 | ARA 1 7 | ARA 2 5 | ARA 3 3 | NAV 1 15 | NAV 2 Ret | NAV 3 6 | JER 1 4 | JER 2 7 | JER 3 8 | EST 1 7 | EST 2 4 | EST 3 9 | CRT 1 7 | CRT 2 3 | CRT 3 2 | CAT 1 6 | CAT 2 6 | CAT 3 4 | 5th | 171 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | R-ace GP | IMO 1 24† | IMO 2 | IMO 3 7 | IMO 4 8 | MIS 1 | MIS 2 | MIS 3 | SPA 1 | SPA 2 | SPA 3 | MNZ 1 | MNZ 2 | MNZ 3 | LEC 1 | LEC 2 | LEC 3 | MUG 1 | MUG 2 | MUG 3 | VLL 1 | VLL 2 | VLL 3 | 20th | 10 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Phinsys by Argenti | DON 1 | DON 2 | DON 3 | BHI 1 | BHI 2 | BHI 3 | SNE 1 C | SNE 2 11 | SNE 3 19 | THR 1 13 | THR 2 19 | THR 3 12 | OUL 1 | OUL 2 | OUL 3 | SIL 1 | SIL 2 | SIL 3 | CRO 1 | CRO 2 | CRO 3 | KNO 1 | KNO 2 | KNO 3 | DPGP 1 | DPGP 2 | DPGP 3 | DPGP 4 | BHGP 1 | BHGP 2 | BHGP 3 | 25th | 0 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Saintéloc Racing | YMC1 1 15 | YMC1 2 14 | YMC1 3 9 | YMC2 1 7 | YMC2 2 16 | YMC2 3 15 | DUB1 1 | DUB1 2 | DUB1 3 | YMC3 1 | YMC3 2 | YMC3 3 | DUB2 1 | DUB2 2 | DUB2 3 | 18th | 8 |
| 2025 | Evans GP | YMC1 1 | YMC1 2 | YMC1 3 | YMC2 1 | YMC2 2 | YMC2 3 | DUB 1 | DUB 2 | DUB 3 | YMC3 1 Ret | YMC3 2 16 | YMC3 3 24† | LUS 1 Ret | LUS 2 9 | LUS 3 19 | 19th | 4 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Saintéloc Racing | HOC 1 15 | HOC 2 13 | SPA 1 5 | SPA 2 11 | ZAN 1 Ret | ZAN 2 Ret | HUN 1 DSQ | HUN 2 10 | MUG 1 19 | MUG 2 18 | LEC 1 10 | LEC 2 15 | IMO 1 8 | IMO 2 Ret | RBR 1 10 | RBR 2 4 | CAT 1 22 | CAT 2 Ret | MNZ 1 25† | MNZ 2 Ret | 17th | 29 |
| 2025 | Trident | MIS 1 1 | MIS 2 3 | SPA 1 2 | SPA 2 6 | ZAN 1 6 | ZAN 2 6 | HUN 1 1 | HUN 2 3 | LEC 1 2 | LEC 2 6 | IMO 1 5 | IMO 2 4 | RBR 1 1 | RBR 2 Ret | CAT 1 1 | CAT 2 7 | HOC 1 3 | HOC 2 2 | MNZ 1 11 | MNZ 2 2 | 2nd | 277 |
| Year | Team | Car | Qualifying | Quali Race | Main Race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  PHM Racing | Tatuus F3 T-318 | 10th | 6th | DSQ |
| 2025 |  R-ace GP | Tatuus F3 T-318 | 9th | 11th | 8th |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Trident | MEL SPR | MEL FEA | BHR SPR | BHR FEA | MON SPR | MON FEA | CAT SPR | CAT FEA | RBR SPR | RBR FEA | SIL SPR | SIL FEA | SPA SPR | SPA FEA | HUN SPR | HUN FEA | MNZ SPR | MNZ FEA | MAD SPR | MAD FEA | TBD | TBD |
