Despite finishing 16th in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship, Ugo Ugochukwu insists his confidence is only growing. The 18-year-old American, now with Campos Racing after racing with Prema for a third consecutive season, sees the campaign as a year of progress, reflection, and preparation for greater challenges ahead.
Assessing the 2025 F3 Campaign
Ugochukwu’s rookie F3 season in 2025 began under complex circumstances. His step up to the category coincided with the introduction of a brand-new car, which proved difficult for teams to master in the early rounds. Prema, historically dominant with five Teams’ titles in the previous six years, struggled to extract performance, leaving both drivers and engineers chasing solutions in the first half of the calendar. Looking back on those early struggles and the subsequent turnaround, Ugochukwu reflected candidly on his year.
“Challenging,” said Ugochukwu when asked about his season. “But I am pretty happy with the progression throughout the year, and the results have been getting better and better. I feel like also with myself, I have been performing better and better. I have been getting more on top of the F3 weekend layout, so happy with how I have progressed throughout the season.”
He continued, “I also think the team has made a big step forward throughout the season. It was tricky at the beginning of the year, mainly in race pace, but ever since the Red Bull Ring, it has been a lot better, both quali and race pace.”
“I’d say also myself I have been able to extract more from the races, especially in the last few rounds, and especially in quali when it really matters. Being inside the top 12 has been crucial, so it’s just been getting better and better.”
Life under the McLaren spotlight
While many young drivers face pressure when stepping onto the international stage, Ugochukwu’s journey has been under the microscope for years. At just 13, he joined the McLaren Young Driver Programme – the same age Lewis Hamilton was when the team first signed him. Such a move placed him firmly in the spotlight, yet the American insists it has always been a source of motivation rather than a burden.
“I felt it was pretty easy,” said Ugochukwu when asked how he dealt with the spotlight. “I didn’t feel any added pressure when I got put into the spotlight signing with McLaren. Obviously every time I go to the track, I want to do the best job I can, even from karting, the pressure comes more from yourself wanting to do a good job. Being part of McLaren, from early on, just gave me a boost of confidence, it meant I was doing something right. I just try to learn what I can from them and keep doing what I can every time I am at the track.”
“McLaren are quite involved. I think they just tried to guide me in the best way possible. They want to see improvement, same as myself as a driver, and obviously the results are important as well. I think these last few weekends showing what I can do has been really important. I think they see that as well, and obviously P16, it’s not where I want to be in the Championship, but I think there has been many things to take into consideration and the potential was there to be much higher.”
Frustrations in the Feature Races
Nevertheless, the 2025 F3 season was not without frustration for Ugochukwu. While he scored two podiums in Sprint Races – at Spa-Francorchamps and Budapest – his results in Feature Races told a different story. These longer contests award more points, and not being able to capitalise on strong grid positions left him rueing what might have been. He did not shy away from expressing that disappointment, acknowledging the missed opportunities that defined several weekends.
“The last three or four Sprint Races have been good, but ultimately they are not the Feature Races, which is where you score more points,” acknowledged Ugochukwu.
“Even though I have felt there is a potential for a lot more, Silverstone, starting P2, made the wrong decision on tyres which cost us a lot of points, same for Spa, where I think our pace was really good, but there was no Feature Race. Budapest was quite frustrating because I was coming through the field and then I got taken out fighting for P4. It is what it is, we know what we could have done.”
“It’s been frustrating to miss out on those points, but it’s really close in that area, the top eight to 16th, so every little point matters. It’s a shame to throw it away like that.”
Confidence for the future
Although the frustrations remain fresh, Ugochukwu has chosen to view the season as an invaluable learning curve. Beyond the statistics, he has built experience in tyre management, racecraft, and handling the pressures of elite junior single-seaters.
“I mean there have been quite a few positives,” added Ugochukwu. “Learning how the F3 car works in general, and tyre management has been positive the last few weekends. I have been able to come through well, especially in the Sprint Races. I really managed my tyres well, which has been a really big plus, so that’s obviously going to be important for the next few years of my career.”
He continued, “I think the step I would like to make is to get everything together, maximise everything, especially in quali, and to be fighting for pole more often. That’s really the difference between being a top five driver and challenging for the Championship.”
With that mindset, Ugochukwu leaves 2025 not discouraged but energised. His ability to reflect honestly on mistakes while identifying clear areas for growth marks him as a driver determined to progress.
A story of resilience amidst setbacks and the spotlight
In the end, Ugo Ugochukwu’s 2025 F3 season tells a story of resilience. Although a 16th-place finish in the standings disappoints Ugochukwu, his steady progress, growing adaptability, and McLaren’s backing point to brighter days ahead. His own words make clear that he has not only learned the intricacies of Formula 3 but also how to convert setbacks into motivation. If he can translate his growing confidence into consistent qualifying performances and stronger Feature Race results, the path towards becoming a Championship contender looks well within reach.
