In August 2025, AIX Racing officially announced that 18-year-old Yevan David will race for them in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship. This landmark signing not only secured David as the first confirmed driver on the 2026 F3 grid but also marked a historic milestone for Sri Lanka, as he became the country’s first-ever driver to be added to the F3 grid. For both David and his homeland, this moment signifies a major leap forward in the representation and diversity of global motorsport.
David joins AIX Racing after an exceptional campaign in the Euroformula Championship, where he finished second overall, claiming six impressive victories. His performances have drawn significant attention, showcasing both his speed and maturity behind the wheel. The young racer, born in London and raised in Singapore, has steadily climbed the motorsport ladder, progressing from karting through F4 and Euroformula to reach the highly competitive world of FIA Formula 3.
“The first childhood dream come true”
While speaking about this next chapter, David admitted that he was excited, viewing his step up to F3 as a crucial milestone on the road to achieving his F3 dream. “Honestly, I am really excited for it,” said David. “I have been watching F3 since I was a kid, it’s the actual starting block on the road to F1. So you look at F3 and you are like ‘Wow these guys are on the way to F1 I want to be there soon’.”
“So the fact that it’s been confirmed I will be racing in F3 next year, it’s like the first childhood dream come true, it’s honestly a lot of excitement, and a lot of passion. The season has not started yet, so I am going to be working hard and obviously not too happy yet.”
Why AIX Racing was the right call
Indeed, the step up to F3 represents not just a personal milestone for Yevan David, but also the realisation of a dream nurtured since childhood. Moving from Euroformula to FIA F3 is a major challenge for any young driver — a transition that demands both technical understanding and mental adaptability. Despite this, David has taken the move in stride, choosing to join AIX Racing, a team that showed flashes of potential in 2025 even while facing a turbulent season marked by multiple mid-year driver changes.
Although AIX was not a front-running outfit last season, it occasionally demonstrated the ability to extract competitive pace from its machinery. The team secured a few standout performances, including podium finishes, which suggested that with stability and refinement, consistent results could follow. David, known for his analytical approach, recognised that the team’s raw speed offered a foundation worth building on.
Reflecting on his decision to sign with AIX, David explained that their performance in 2025 had been a key consideration. “AIX have shown that they have been quick this year with Freddie Slater and Brad Benavides, they have gotten podiums and front rows, so they have the pace definitely. Even with drivers entering midway through the season, they have been up there, top three, top five, we looked at that and thought they probably have a lot of potential.”
For David, this represents an opportunity to grow alongside a squad that, like him, has something to prove.
Testing, adaptation, and early impressions
David has wasted no time embedding himself within the AIX Racing environment. Earlier this month, he completed three key post-season test sessions at Jerez, Barcelona, and Imola — all critical to understanding the demands of an F3 car. These sessions gave him a first glimpse into the physical, technical, and strategic complexity of the championship.
Discussing his experience so far, David offered a candid assessment of his progress. “Honestly, it’s been going great,” he said. “We are working towards next year and learning as much as possible, so that’s what these test days are for. But I’m very excited, because just seeing my name on the board for the first time in F3.”
That first experience behind the wheel was clearly significant for the young driver. Beyond the novelty, it marked the start of his learning process. However, David recognises that there is still much to master in adapting from Euroformula to the faster, more sensitive F3 machinery.
Preparing for a new challenge ahead
He went on to describe the specific challenges that come with driving at this higher level. “There’s a lot to adapt to, like tyre warmups, just having one push in quali runs, and the race run is a lot about saving tyres. So it’s a lot of different things that come into play. But you have to remember that this is what you wanted to do, you signed up for it, and to be the best you have to follow the procedures. You have to do everything the best, and improve on what you can work on, and that’s how you move forward.”
The technical learning curve — including tyre management, braking technique, and qualifying execution — will be steep, yet David’s methodical mindset positions him well to adapt. David also recognises that certain elements of racecraft can only come with experience.
“So it is about procedures, but it is also about improving on your weak areas. So I would say there is race pace. Starts I have never done because we have not done a race yet, so it’s just ticking these boxes, and just getting better every lap.”
Familiar faces in the garage
While David will have a lot to learn ahead of his 2026 F3 race debut in Melbourne, familiar company will ease his transition into the series. Next season, he will share the garage with two drivers he already knows well — Brad Benavides and Fernando ‘Fefo’ Barrichello.
“Me, Brad and Fefo have all been teammates at the same time last year,” revealed David. “I’ve also been Fefo’s teammate the whole of this year, so we all know each other very well, and we get along very well. When we all were announced, I texted them saying ‘Guys let’s do this, this is pretty awesome’ especially Fefo because he was filling in for Monza. So I’m excited to work with them, to work with the team as well.”
Carrying a nation’s pride
This camaraderie will undoubtedly contribute to a strong team dynamic, which could prove crucial in navigating the challenges of a rookie F3 season. Additionally, the emotional significance of his debut cannot be overstated. David is on the brink of making history, proudly representing Sri Lanka on one of motorsport’s most competitive stages.
“It’s pretty crazy because Sri Lanka is famous for cricket, running and swimming in the Olympics, but there have been only a few racing drivers and never in F3,” he explained. “So to be able to compete in F3, as a Sri Lankan, not just competing, but hopefully fighting for the wins, fighting for the title, that would be an extraordinary feeling, not just for me, but for the whole pride of Sri Lanka.”
This sense of national pride fuels David’s motivation to perform at his absolute best. Still, he remains grounded about the hard work ahead. From post-season tests to pre-season preparations, he understands that consistent effort and precision will be the foundation for any success in 2026.
“I mean obviously everyone wants to win, everyone wants to win a Championship,” acknowledged David. “But the basis of that is perfecting every lap, every brake shape, every throttle input.”
“My focus on next year is obviously to achieve as much as possible in terms of results, and by doing that I am going to be focusing on every lap, every corner, because I know if I drive to one hundred percent every lap, that result will eventually come. I am expecting that but that’s not the goal. My goal is fulfilling everything within my control to achieve my goal.”
A look towards 2026
As anticipation builds for the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season, Yevan David’s journey stands as a remarkable story of perseverance, discipline, and national pride. With his eyes firmly set on the future, he carries both his ambitions and the hopes of an entire nation onto the world stage — ready to race, ready to learn, and ready to make history.
