Tuukka Taponen took a dominant lights-to-flag victory in the final round of the FIA Formula 3 championship at the Madring in Madrid. But the bigger story was Ugo Ugochukwu, who finished second to claim the drivers' title.
For Ugochukwu, it was a clinical weekend. "No mistakes the whole weekend and a perfect way to end the season," he said. "I just tried to stay as cool as possible." The American driver entered the race level on points with Audi junior Freddie Slater and managed to keep his cool despite an early challenge from Pedro Clerot.
Taponen, starting from pole, controlled the race from the front. A late safety car for Hiyu Yamakoshi's stopped car set up a one-lap shootout, but the Ferrari junior held on to take his first F3 win and move up to third in the final standings. His performance also helped MP Motorsport secure third in the teams' championship.
Slater's title hopes ended in disappointment. After qualifying eighth due to problems, he struggled to make progress on a track where overtaking proved difficult. He briefly lost a position to Yevan David but regained it, though it wasn't enough to challenge for the title. He thanked his Trident team over the radio for an "amazing year."
The race also saw local team Campos Racing celebrate the drivers' title to add to their teams' championship, capping a perfect home event in Madrid. With the season now over, Ugochukwu will carry the champion's crown into his next challenge, while Taponen and Slater will be names to watch in the future.
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Pedro Clerot wins F3 Feature Race in Madrid after Freddie Slater crashes. Ugo Ugockuwu crowned 2026 champion, Taponen wins earlier session.
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