Mexican driver José Garfias is preparing for a new chapter in his career. He will step up to the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship with PREMA Racing. After gaining experience in the junior single-seater ranks, Garfias now turns his attention to F3. However, he faces a shorter preparation window than expected.
Speaking during a media session attended by Pit Debrief, Garfias reflected on his late confirmation for the 2026 season. He also discussed the adjustments required and the atmosphere within his new team amid external speculation.
Garfias PREMA Racing F3 2026: Late confirmation reshapes season preparation
Garfias revealed that his move into FIA F3 materialised later than expected, significantly altering his off season plans.
“For me, it’s actually a bit of a surprise that I’m here standing here at this point because, of course, the news came very late. And, over the winter break, I was not thinking of doing F3. I was actually planning to compete in another racing series.”
With the opportunity confirmed only recently, Garfias focus for the F3 2026 season has shifted towards adapting quickly to PREMA Racing and continuing the upward trajectory he has built in recent seasons.
“I mean, the focus, I think, is the same for me. It’s just moving forward and continue the progress which I’ve been putting in the latest seasons. Just continue putting in the work, of course, now that I know I’ll be racing in F3. I think the preparation from now to the first race and after that will be a bit tougher because, especially since I haven’t been doing all the preparation, especially for F3 over the winter season, over the winter break, it’ll be tough to catch up on all of those things. But, yeah, I mean, I’m just looking forward to continuing that process and doing the best job I can this year.”
The condensed preparation period presents an additional challenge, particularly in a category as competitive as F3. Nevertheless, Garfias’ emphasis remains on steady improvement and maximising performance once the season gets underway.
Focused atmosphere at PREMA Racing despite external noise
Garfias also addressed questions regarding speculation surrounding PREMA’s financial situation. He only recently joined the Italian outfit during pre-season testing in Barcelona. Since then, he has shared positive impressions of the team environment he has experienced so far.
“I think I just joined the team a couple of days ago and just got to know them in Barcelona and testing and for me, the atmosphere is really great compared to other teams I’ve been with and the other experiences I’ve had is just great. Great team, great people, great atmosphere. They’re all pushing to win, they’re all pushing to perform and the background noise and the media and everything is something that has always been there, will always be there. So, there is rumours, but inside the team, at least, everything’s going well. It all seems well, very organised and I think the focus is on performing and the better we perform, the better it is for everyone.”
While external rumours continue to circulate, Garfias made it clear that the internal focus remains firmly on performance. As he integrates further into the team, his priority is clear. He wants to adapt quickly and extract the maximum from every session. His goal is to build momentum throughout his first full F3 season.
