Ugo Ugochukwu secured the 2026 Formula 3 championship with a composed second-place finish in the feature race at Madring on Sunday, fending off a late charge from rival Freddie Slater.
The battle for the title had been brewing all season. Ugochukwu and Slater were the class of the field in feature races, with Slater taking six podiums and Ugochukwu five in the first seven rounds. No other driver managed more than two.
Slater, part of Audi's driver development programme, held a 15-point lead going into the finale. But a poor qualifying in Madring – 17th and eighth – left him with a mountain to climb. Ugochukwu, meanwhile, lined up fourth and second, and finished eighth in the sprint and fourth in the first feature.
In the final race, Ugochukwu slotted into second behind Tuukka Taponen and managed the gap perfectly. "It felt like a much longer race than usual," he said. "It was difficult to overtake with the dirty air. I knew P2 would clinch the title, so I just had to bring it home."
Slater lost a position to Yevan David at the start but regained eighth around the outside of Turn 1 on lap five. It wasn't enough to deny Ugochukwu, who crossed the line to seal the crown.
This success is redemption for Ugochukwu, who left the McLaren junior programme after a disappointing 16th in his rookie F3 season. Now, with Campos Racing, he has proven his mettle.
The American's triumph also follows his Formula Regional European title over Slater last winter, further establishing him as a rising star.
Read Also
Ugo Ugochukwu wins 2026 F3 title with second place in Madrid Feature Race 2. Taponen takes maiden win, Slater finishes eighth.
Fernando Alonso criticizes current F1 cars and urges faster rule changes. He talks with FIA and F1 about the future of racing.
McLaren pushes for early Gianpiero Lambiase deal from Red Bull, but Red Bull weighs transition plans for McCullough and Hart.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!