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Nigerian-American racing driver Ugo Ugochukwu has been crowned the 2026 FIA Formula 3 champion after a dramatic final round at the newly opened Madring circuit in Madrid, Spain.
The 19-year-old secured the championship on Sunday after finishing second in the final race of the season for Campos Racing. His result was enough to put him 14 points clear of British rival Freddie Slater in the final championship standings.
Ugochukwu entered the decisive weekend facing a 15-point deficit to Slater but produced a strong comeback across the Madrid races to overturn the gap. By the final race, he had moved into a position where finishing ahead of his rival would secure the championship.
The championship marks a major milestone in Ugochukwu’s career. Born in New York and of Nigerian heritage, he becomes the first American driver to win the FIA Formula 3 championship, placing his name among the series’ notable champions.
His victory also delivers a significant achievement for Campos Racing, with Ugochukwu becoming the team’s 2026 drivers’ champion after a season-long battle with Slater and other leading contenders.
Formula 3 is widely regarded as an important stage in the single-seater racing ladder, sitting below Formula 2 and serving as a pathway for young drivers seeking to progress towards Formula 1. Ugochukwu’s title therefore places him in a stronger position as he continues his pursuit of a career at the highest level of international motorsport.
