Ugo Ugochukwu showed mixed emotions after his 8th place qualifying result at the Red Bull Ring. The PREMA Racing driver had demonstrated strong pace throughout the session. However, a costly spin denied him a much better grid position.
Momentum built through practice
Ugochukwu carried solid form into qualifying after finishing 6th in FP at the F3 Austrian GP. His consistent pace put him regularly among the top 5 during the session. The McLaren junior appeared well positioned for a strong qualifying result as his car showed genuine speed around the circuit.
Late qualifying mistake
Qualifying brought a late heartbreak for the 18 year old PREMA driver. Ugochukwu had just set the fastest middle sector time of the entire session, but ended up spinning at turn 10 during his final qualifying attempt.
Despite continuing after the spin, the crucial opportunity had been lost. He was forced to settle for P8 on the starting grid for the Feature race.
Driver reflects on missed opportunity
“A little bit frustrating because the pace was really good today. We made a really good step from the last weekends, so that was definitely a positive,” Ugochukwu reflected.
The late spin proved costly at the worst possible moment. “That last lap was going really well until I made a mistake at the last corner,” he explained. “The track is getting better and better every lap and you are more on the limit every lap.“
He acknowledged pushing too hard in the final moments. “I tried to send it and ultimately it was a little bit too much and it didn’t really go my way.”
Team progress provides encouragement
Despite the disappointment, Ugochukwu’s Austrian GP qualifying pace allowed him to remain focused on the positives. “We have the good part, which is we are definitely a lot quicker, so we see now in the races,” he said. “Ideally, we will have good tyre management and try and get some good points this weekend.”
PREMA has made significant technical improvements for the Austrian GP weekend. The most notable one being the removal of paint from his car. Ugochukwu’s car featured an all black livery instead of his usual papaya McLaren colors. The change formed part of weight reduction efforts in order to improve performance.
“We have managed to not to be over the weight limit which is definitely a positive,” he revealed. “It’s not an advantage, as it just puts us in a level playing field with the others, so it’s a good step.”
The technical improvements should benefit the team throughout the remaining championship rounds. PREMA hopes that changes will improve their qualifying and race competitiveness.
Looking forward to race day
The American driver maintained his optimistic outlook despite the qualifying setback. “I’m taking the positives,” he stated. “We focus on the races, and then try to get the best possible results at the next few races.“
Ugochukwu believes the improvements position the team well for the future, saying “I think this puts us in a nice position for the next rounds, especially for qualifying.”
The PREMA driver emphasized the importance of strong qualifying in Formula 3. “It is really important in this Championship to qualify in front, it’s a lot easier to manage the races.“
Race strategy considerations
Starting from 8th place presents both challenges and opportunities for Sunday’s Feature race. Ugochukwu decided to focus on tomorrow’s sprint race instead of discussing Feature race plans. “For tomorrow, starting from P5, we are in a good place,” Ugochukwu noted. “There might be a little bit of a DRS train.”
Tyre management will prove crucial during both races at the F3 Austrian GP. “Ultimately on the Soft tyre around here, there is going to be quite a bit of graining,” Ugochukwu explained. “So whoever gets on top of that will probably be really strong towards the end.”
The PREMA driver plans to focus on consistency throughout the race distance. “We will try to focus on that and having that consistent pace throughout the race.”
Ugochukwu’s Austrian GP qualifying performance demonstrated the team’s improved competitiveness despite the frustrating final result. The Austrian GP weekend provides an opportunity to convert that pace into championship points.
