After clinching the 2024 Euroformula Open title, Brad Benavides returned to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025 with AIX Racing. However, the American driver’s re-entry to the series has not been without its challenges. Speaking to the media, including Pit Debrief, ahead of the 2025 Hungarian GP, Benavides opened up about the steep adjustment curve he has had to navigate after joining the F3 grid late in the 2025 season.
Starting from behind
Despite his previous experience, rejoining a highly competitive F3 field from Round 3 at the 2025 Imola GP meant that Benavides faced an uphill battle from the outset. Unlike his rivals, who had months of testing and preparation under their belts, Benavides entered the season without any pre-season mileage.
“Well, the biggest challenge, I guess, was the fact that I came in three rounds late,” he explained in response to a question from Pit Debrief. “And then at the same time, most of the field, they do a lot of pre-season testing, and I didn’t have any of that,” he explained. “So, the first part of my, I guess, re-adapting, learning curve phase, I guess, I dusted that off within the first three rounds.”
This lack of preparation left him on the back foot, needing to rebuild rhythm and confidence in a car that had evolved since he last drove in the series in 2022.
Progress from Austria onwards
Despite the rough start, the AIX Racing driver saw steady progress as the rounds passed. Benavides pointed to the 2025 Austrian GP as the turning point in his F3 campaign.
“And then from that moment onwards, which was Austria, I guess I’ve settled into a good rhythm in terms of quality,” he said. “Silverstone, I was still close to the reverse grid pull, barely by a couple of hundredths.”
His performances in Qualifying have notably improved since the initial rounds, highlighting that his pace is returning — even if the final grid positions have not always shown it.
“So yeah, that’s just been the biggest challenge: the fact that everyone had, I guess, one or maybe even two steps ahead of me in that sense.”
In a category as fiercely tight as F3 — where tenths often separate the entire grid — those lost steps in preparation can have significant consequences. Yet, Benavides has shown that he’s steadily bridging the gap.
A career marked by resilience
Benavides’ determination to re-establish himself in F3 comes after an eventful few years across various single-seater championships. After stints in Euroformula Open, Formula Regional, FIA F3 and a difficult 2023 campaign in Formula 2, he returned to Euroformula in 2024 with Team Motopark, where he captured his first single-seater title with consistent wins across the calendar.
His earlier racing years were marked by sporadic appearances and inconsistent results — from his Formula Renault Eurocup struggles to partial FRECA campaigns. But his persistence has paid off: the 2024 Euroformula crown was proof of his capability when given a stable platform.
A new chapter with AIX Racing
Now back in F3 with AIX Racing for 2025, Benavides is embracing the opportunity to prove his growth as a driver — not just as a racer with raw pace, but as one with racecraft, adaptability, and experience. Partnered with Nicola Marinangeli and James Hedley for the remainder of the season, he’ll look to capitalise on the momentum he’s building through the second half of 2025.
Though his campaign started late, Brad Benavides is no stranger to comebacks. And as he continues to close the gap to the front runners, his story is fast becoming one of redemption and steady resurgence in one of motorsport’s most competitive proving grounds.
