After a standout campaign in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), Pedro Clerot has officially been confirmed as one of Rodin Motorsport’s drivers for the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season. The Brazilian talent has already had his first taste of F3 machinery during post-season testing, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career.
Stepping up to F3
At just 19 years old, Clerot continues his rapid rise through the single-seater ranks. After clinching the Brazilian F4 Championship in 2022, he moved to the Spanish F4 Championship before stepping up to FRECA in 2024. A strong 2025 season saw him finish fourth overall — an achievement that paved the way for his promotion to Formula 3 with Rodin.
Reflecting on the move, Clerot expressed his excitement about joining one of the category’s most competitive teams. He stated: “I’m very happy to be finally making this step in my career to FIA Formula 3. I think it’s a special step to do also with Rodin, with all their history, it’s a very good team, and I feel very grateful for this opportunity.
“It’s a very important step in my career and I am ready to take this step with them. So just happy to be in the Championship, enjoying every moment so far from testing, and I am very glad to be here.”
While 2026 will mark Clerot’s first season with Rodin Motorsport, he will find familiar faces in the paddock. The Brazilian previously shared a team with Brando Badoer in 2024 and competed against Christian Ho in the 2023 Spanish F4 Championship — both of whom will now be his teammates at Rodin.
Building experience through post-season testing
Preparation for Clerot’s rookie Formula 3 campaign is already underway. The Brazilian took part in the post-season tests at Jerez, Barcelona, and Imola, gaining valuable mileage and experience in the more powerful machinery.
“It’s been pretty decent. I have just been getting to know the car. There is a lot more downforce, a lot more power, a lot more everything that what I am used to.
“But I think we are doing a good job, just getting mileage with the car, understanding what the car likes, what the car doesn’t like, and doing some development also with the team.“
Familiarity with the new F3 teammates
The 19-year-old believes that his familiarity with his new teammates will help him adapt quickly to F3’s demands:
“It helps to have two teammates, who have been here for a previous season in the category. Brando is actually an old teammate of mine from VAR in FRECA, and Christian, we raced together in Spanish F4.
“So familiarity for me in terms of drivers, but just getting to know how the team works, the dynamics and everything, so looking forward to it. Also happy to get some wet driving here in Imola, getting ready for every situation possible.”
That shared experience could prove valuable as Rodin Motorsport targets a strong 2026 campaign. Clerot’s previous knowledge of his teammates’ racing styles may also provide an edge as the trio push each other to improve.
Work to do before the season starts
When asked about his performance during the post-season tests, Clerot highlighted his focus on both qualifying pace and race consistency:
“Generally, I think the one lap is pretty special. It makes everything a lot more interesting. Also, there is a lot more pressure because you have to deliver on that one lap. So it’s all about getting the tyre warmup right, and understanding everything, like what I can do to help the team and also help myself to get the tyre ready for that single most important push.
“But also, the race stuff has been quite good. We haven’t seen so much deg yet, so let’s see. But generally it has been quite strong, in Jerez, Barcelona, it’s been really good.
“We are improving every time we go on track, which is the most important thing. We have some work to do on the one lap, but in terms of the race pace, I am happy with the work we have been doing.”
Improvement ahead
With testing complete, Clerot’s focus now turns to off-season preparation, particularly simulator work and data analysis. The opening three rounds of the 2026 calendar — Melbourne, Bahrain, and Monaco — will all be new experiences for him, making this phase crucial to his readiness.
When asked about his winter plans, the 19-year-old stated, “Plenty of sim, plenty of development to do with the team. Obviously, we won’t drive anymore, but just looking forward to going through every bit that I can in terms of data. We need to look through what could have been better in the test, what could be better for next year, and also, I’ll be on the sim 24/7.”
“Not a lot of mileage for us, so already prepping everything. I don’t know most of the tracks, I haven’t been there especially to the first three rounds, which is Melbourne, Bahrain, and Monaco. We do some tests in Bahrain, so I am looking forward to it, I’m excited.”
