Gerrard Xie enters his second campaign in the FIA Formula 3 Championship determined to build on the foundations of his rookie year. After contesting the 2025 F3 season with Hitech TGR, Xie now embarks on a fresh chapter with DAMS Lucas Oil in 2026. As the reigning 2022 F4 Chinese champion and a driver with experience across GB3 and Formula Regional machinery, Xie approaches 2026 with a clear emphasis on development and competitiveness.
Speaking during a pre-season press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Xie reflected on winter testing progress and outlined his objectives for the year ahead.
Encouraging pace and strong team chemistry in Barcelona
Pre-season testing in Barcelona marked Xie’s first extended running with DAMS ahead of their second year in the championship. He aligned his assessment closely with that of teammate Nicola Lacorte, highlighting consistent pace and positive team morale.
“Yeah, I’ve been the same sort of form with Nico. I think we showed some very solid pace throughout the test and overall, as a team, we are quite happy. And yeah, we are looking forward to the season, and we all have a very good relationship by the moment.”
Xie pointed to both performance and cohesion as key gains over the winter. For a team still relatively new to F3, strong internal relationships and clear communication can prove decisive across a demanding calendar.
Xie focused on driver development with DAMS in 2026 F3 season
As DAMS prepares for only its second season in F3, questions inevitably arise about expectations and targets. Xie, however, centres his ambitions firmly on personal growth rather than headline predictions.
“Yeah, for me, I still keep the same goal, try to develop as much as a driver. Again, like with the new team, I learned a lot of different stuff already from these old tests. So yeah, I think I’ll continue to improve and be more competitive, be much more competitive than last year.”
After finishing 29th in the standings during his rookie 2025 campaign, Xie prioritises steady progression. He recognises the learning curve that accompanies a team change and views pre-season testing as an important step in adapting to new working methods and technical philosophies.
Building towards greater competitiveness
Xie’s career trajectory already includes championship success in the Chinese F4 and Formula Renault Super Challenge series, followed by experience in GB3 and Formula Regional categories. Now, in his second FIA Formula 3 season, he aims to translate that background into sharper execution on track.
By combining solid winter pace with a cohesive team environment at DAMS, Xie positions himself to make a measurable step forward. His objective remains clear: maximise development, strengthen consistency and emerge significantly more competitive than in his debut F3 campaign.
