The 2026 FIA Formula 3 (F3) post-season testing programme concludes with two days of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 26–27 October, bringing the championship’s final official track activities of the year to a close. Following the opening test at Jerez, all ten teams will return to action with 30 drivers as preparations for the 2027 season continue ahead of the winter break.
The Barcelona entry list features just one change from Jerez, with Yevan David joining Van Amersfoort Racing in place of Francisco Macedo. The remaining 29 drivers will return for another two days of testing, allowing teams to build on the information collected during the opening sessions while continuing to evaluate their preparations for next season.
With several teams already confirming their 2027 line-ups, the final test provides an opportunity for returning competitors and newcomers to strengthen their understanding of the current F3 machinery. Meanwhile, drivers without confirmed race seats can continue demonstrating their potential as the remaining places on next year’s grid take shape.
Barcelona concludes the 2026 FIA F3 post-season testing programme
The 2026 FIA F3 Championship concluded at Madrid in September, with Ugo Ugochukwu securing the Drivers’ Championship and Campos Racing claiming its second consecutive Teams’ title. However, the conclusion of the racing season did not mark the end of the championship’s on-track activities, with organisers scheduling four days of post-season testing across two Spanish circuits.
As previously confirmed by FIA F3, the programme began at the Circuito de Jerez on 20–21 October before moving to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for its final two days. The tests provide teams with an opportunity to assess driver performance, evaluate different setups and gather technical information before preparations intensify during the winter.
Barcelona offers a particularly useful environment because teams already possess extensive experience at the circuit. The championship held three days of 2026 pre-season testing at the venue in February, providing an established reference point for understanding the Dallara F3 2025 and evaluating its performance across different conditions.
Furthermore, the circuit’s combination of medium- and high-speed corners, heavy braking zones and technical sections places considerable demands on both drivers and machinery. Teams can therefore evaluate multiple aspects of performance, including aerodynamic balance, tyre behaviour and consistency over longer runs, before concluding their official 2026 testing programmes.
2026 FIA F3 Barcelona testing schedule and session format
The official FIA Formula 3 Barcelona preview confirms that teams will complete two days of running, with three-hour morning and afternoon sessions scheduled on both days. However, the programme features different starting times, allowing teams to experience varying track conditions while completing their final testing objectives.
Monday’s opening session will begin at 10:00 local time and continue until 13:00. Following a two-hour break, drivers will return to the circuit at 15:00 before concluding the day’s running at 18:00. The following day will begin earlier, with the morning session running from 09:00 until 12:00 and the afternoon programme taking place between 13:00 and 16:00.
The confirmed timetable is as follows:
Monday, 26 October 2026
- Morning session: 10:00–13:00 CET
- Afternoon session: 15:00–18:00 CET
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
- Morning session: 09:00–12:00 CET
- Afternoon session: 13:00–16:00 CET
Each day will provide six hours of scheduled track time, bringing the Barcelona programme to 12 hours across the two days. Combined with the earlier Jerez running, teams will have received up to 24 hours of official post-season testing opportunities.
However, individual programmes will vary depending on each team’s objectives. While some drivers may concentrate on extracting performance during shorter qualifying simulations, others will complete longer runs to improve their understanding of tyre management, race pace and consistency.
Consequently, outright lap times may not provide a complete indication of the competitive order, particularly when teams run different fuel loads, tyre compounds and testing programmes.
Jerez establishes early competitive benchmark ahead of Barcelona
The opening 2026 FIA F3 post-season test at Jerez provided valuable experience for both established competitors and drivers progressing into the championship. With half the original entry list preparing for their first experience of FIA F3 machinery, the sessions offered an opportunity to develop familiarity with the cars while allowing teams to assess their preparations for 2027.
Trident’s Kean Nakamura-Berta topped Tuesday’s opening day, recording a 1:31.169 during the afternoon session. The British driver finished just 0.002 seconds ahead of Campos Racing’s Mattia Colnaghi, while Ernesto Rivera completed the leading three, only 0.011 seconds behind the benchmark.
However, the competitive order changed considerably during Wednesday’s running as teams continued adjusting their programmes. Van Amersfoort Racing’s Francisco Macedo ultimately recorded the fastest lap of the two-day test, delivering a 1:29.766 during the morning qualifying simulations.
Macedo finished 0.169s ahead of teammate Enzo Deligny, completing a Van Amersfoort Racing one-two, while Rodin Motorsport’s Pedro Clerot secured third. Later that afternoon, Rodin’s Alessandro Giusti topped the final session with a 1:30.322 as teams concentrated on longer runs and race simulations.
The results highlighted the competitiveness of several teams, although differences in testing programmes complicated direct comparisons. Barcelona will now provide another opportunity to evaluate performance as drivers continue adapting to their respective machinery.
Macedo leaves after topping Jerez as David joins Van Amersfoort Racing
The only change to the Barcelona entry list comes at Van Amersfoort Racing, where David will replace Macedo in the #14 car. The Sri Lankan driver joins Deligny and Rashid Al Dhaheri for the final two days, completing a line-up that will continue the Dutch team’s preparations for the 2027 campaign.
David already possesses FIA F3 experience following his 2026 season with AIX Racing, making Barcelona an opportunity to begin developing his relationship with Van Amersfoort Racing. Having secured a place with the team for 2027, he can use the remaining testing sessions to familiarise himself with its engineering procedures, evaluate different setups and establish a foundation ahead of his second championship campaign.
Meanwhile, Macedo departs the testing programme following an impressive performance at Jerez. The Portuguese driver received a late opportunity to participate with Van Amersfoort Racing and subsequently delivered the quickest overall lap of the two-day event, recovering from a challenging opening day to establish the benchmark during Wednesday’s morning session.
His performance also highlighted the importance of testing opportunities for drivers seeking to progress through the junior single-seater categories. Despite arriving without extensive preparation time, Macedo demonstrated competitive pace against several drivers already confirmed for the following season.
As explored in Pit Debrief’s coverage of Macedo’s Jerez performance, adapting to the F3 car’s tyre characteristics represented an important challenge during his introduction to the category.
Deligny and Al Dhaheri aim to build on strong Jerez performances
While David begins working with Van Amersfoort Racing, teammates Deligny and Al Dhaheri will aim to build on their experience from the opening test. Both drivers completed the two days at Jerez, providing the Dutch outfit with additional information as it evaluates its preparations for 2027.
Deligny emerged as one of the strongest performers during Wednesday’s morning session, recording a 1:29.935 to finish second behind Macedo. His lap placed him ahead of several drivers with previous FIA F3 experience, providing an encouraging indication of his adaptation to the machinery.
Meanwhile, Al Dhaheri continued preparing for his rookie campaign after progressing through the Formula Regional categories. The Emirati driver demonstrated encouraging single-lap pace during Jerez, featuring among the leading competitors at different stages of the session.
The pair will now return alongside David, allowing Van Amersfoort Racing to gather further information across a revised three-driver combination.
With Macedo and Deligny having secured the leading two positions during Jerez’s fastest session, the team enters Barcelona with an encouraging foundation. However, maintaining competitive performance over longer runs will remain important as its drivers continue developing their understanding of the car.
Campos Racing prepares to defend its FIA F3 championships
Reigning Drivers’ and Teams’ Champions Campos Racing will return to Barcelona with its confirmed 2027 line-up of Salim Hanna, Colnaghi and Rivera. The Spanish outfit enters the final test following a successful 2026 campaign, during which Ugochukwu secured the Drivers’ title and the team claimed another championship victory.
Rivera provides continuity following his rookie FIA F3 season, during which he secured two victories and established himself among the championship’s leading competitors. Meanwhile, Colnaghi joins Campos after competing with MP Motorsport in 2026, bringing additional experience alongside a successful background in Spanish F4 and Eurocup-3.
Hanna completes the line-up after gaining experience across FIA F3 and Formula Regional competition. His participation at Jerez provided an early opportunity to develop working relationships with his new teammates and the engineering personnel who will support him during the upcoming season.
Campos demonstrated competitive pace throughout the opening test, with Colnaghi and Rivera finishing second and third behind Nakamura-Berta during Tuesday afternoon’s session. Their performances highlighted the team’s ability to remain competitive despite the changes to its driver line-up following its championship-winning campaign.
Barcelona will provide another opportunity to strengthen those preparations, particularly as the Spanish outfit aims to maintain its recent success against a developing field of returning drivers and highly rated newcomers.
Trident continues preparations following Nakamura-Berta’s Jerez benchmark
Trident will retain its three-driver line-up of Nakamura-Berta, Niccolò Maccagnani and Sebastian Wheldon for the final two days of testing. The Italian outfit enters Barcelona following a productive opening test, during which Nakamura-Berta established the fastest lap on Day 1 and Maccagnani also demonstrated competitive pace.
Nakamura-Berta arrives following a successful Formula Regional campaign, having secured the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy and finished third in the European championship. However, despite his strong performance at Jerez, he acknowledged the considerable learning curve involved in adapting to FIA F3 machinery.
In particular, the British driver identified tyre preparation as an important area for improvement. Although he ultimately produced the fastest lap on Tuesday, he initially struggled to extract maximum performance from the tyres during qualifying simulations, highlighting the differences between F3 and his previous single-seater experience.
As detailed in Pit Debrief’s interview feature on Nakamura-Berta, the 18-year-old placed considerable emphasis on understanding the car rather than treating outright testing times as a definitive indication of competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Maccagnani and Wheldon will continue developing their own familiarity with the machinery. With the trio preparing for their first full FIA F3 campaigns, Barcelona represents another important opportunity to improve consistency and technical understanding before the winter break.
MP Motorsport and Rodin Motorsport seek further gains
MP Motorsport will field Matteo De Palo, Maciej Gładysz and Zhenrui Chi during the Barcelona test, retaining the same line-up that participated at Jerez. The Dutch outfit enters the 2027 preparation period following a competitive season, having finished third in the Teams’ Championship.
De Palo provides valuable experience after finishing third in the 2026 Drivers’ standings with Trident. His move to MP Motorsport introduces a driver already familiar with the demands of competing near the front of the championship, while Gładysz will continue building on the experience gained during his rookie season.
Meanwhile, Chi will use the sessions to develop his understanding of FIA F3 machinery as he prepares for his progression into the championship. Barcelona offers an opportunity for all three drivers to gain further mileage while strengthening their working relationships with the team’s engineering personnel.
Rodin Motorsport will also retain its Jerez line-up of Clerot, Giusti and Reza Seewooruthun, combining returning FIA F3 competitors with a newcomer to the category.
The British outfit enjoyed a productive opening test, with Clerot finishing third during Wednesday morning’s session before Giusti topped the afternoon. Seewooruthun also demonstrated competitive pace, securing fourth during the morning programme.
Consequently, Rodin enters Barcelona with an encouraging foundation as its drivers aim to continue building on the information collected during the opening two days.
ART Grand Prix brings together returning talent and emerging prospects
ART Grand Prix will continue its preparations with Taito Kato, Enzo Yeh and Emanuele Olivieri, bringing together competitors with different levels of experience in junior single-seater racing.
Kato provides an established reference point after finishing fourth in the 2026 FIA F3 Drivers’ Championship, making him the highest-placed returning competitor from the previous season among the post-season testing participants. His experience will be particularly valuable as ART evaluates its preparations ahead of another competitive campaign.
Meanwhile, Olivieri joins the programme following his championship-winning 2026 FIA Formula Regional European campaign. The Italian will use Barcelona to continue adapting to the additional performance and technical demands of FIA F3 machinery after gaining his initial experience at Jerez.
Yeh also returns after participating in the opening test, allowing the French team to continue evaluating its three-driver combination under different track conditions.
Although ART demonstrated encouraging pace at Jerez, the Barcelona sessions will provide a further opportunity to develop consistency across shorter and longer runs. For Kato, the objective will involve applying his previous experience, while Olivieri and Yeh will concentrate on strengthening their understanding of the car.
PREMA Racing evaluates Powell, Nakamura and Molnár
PREMA Racing will return to Barcelona with Alex Powell, Jin Nakamura and Martin Molnár, continuing its four-day evaluation programme following the opening sessions at Jerez.
The Italian outfit previously confirmed its three-driver testing line-up, bringing together two competitors with previous FIA F3 experience and a newcomer progressing from GB3.
Powell returns following his championship appearances during the closing stages of the 2026 season, when he impressed with a podium finish during only his second weekend. His previous experience with PREMA provides an established foundation as the team continues assessing its preparations for the following campaign.
Meanwhile, Nakamura joins the team for testing after completing his rookie FIA F3 season with Hitech. The Japanese driver brings additional knowledge of the championship’s machinery, allowing PREMA to compare information from competitors with different backgrounds.
Molnár completes the line-up following a successful GB3 campaign, during which he secured seven podium finishes. The Hungarian will continue adapting to the F3 car’s greater aerodynamic performance and different tyre characteristics as he prepares for the next stage of his single-seater career.
Barcelona will therefore provide PREMA with another opportunity to evaluate its driver combination and gather information before confirming further details of its 2027 programme.
Hitech continues development with Shin, Le and Al Azhari
Hitech will field Woohyun Shin, Kanato Le and Keanu Al Azhari during the final post-season test, retaining the same three drivers who participated at Jerez.
Le brings previous FIA F3 experience, having competed with ART Grand Prix during the 2026 campaign. His return to the championship with Hitech will provide an opportunity to build on that experience while adapting to a different team environment.
Meanwhile, Shin will continue developing his familiarity with the machinery as the team evaluates its preparations for the following season. Al Azhari also returns after gaining experience during the opening test, following his progression from Eurocup-3.
The Emirati driver demonstrated encouraging pace during Wednesday’s morning session at Jerez, briefly challenging near the top of the classification before ultimately finishing among the leading competitors.
With several drivers preparing to compete in their first full FIA F3 seasons, Hitech will aim to maximise the information collected during the final test. Barcelona’s combination of different corner types and its demanding tyre characteristics should provide opportunities to evaluate both qualifying performance and race consistency.
AIX Racing entry prepares for LN4 Fusion’s arrival in 2027
The Barcelona entry list retains the AIX Racing name for James Egozi, Gabriel Gomez and Dion Gowda. However, the three drivers are preparing for the championship’s transition to LN4 Fusion, which will replace AIX Racing on the FIA F3 grid in 2027.
The new organisation, co-founded by 2025 Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris, has acquired AIX Racing’s championship entry and will introduce a revised structure under former PREMA Racing Team Principal René Rosin. Its arrival represents one of the most significant organisational changes ahead of the upcoming FIA F3 campaign.
Egozi joins the programme following his championship-winning 2026 Eurocup-3 campaign, during which he established himself among the leading talents progressing through the junior single-seater ladder. Meanwhile, Gomez arrives after competing in Formula Regional, having previously secured the Formula Winter Series title and finished runner-up in both Italian F4 and the E4 Championship.
Gowda completes the three-driver combination, bringing additional Formula Regional experience as he continues preparing for his progression into FIA F3.
Barcelona will provide the trio with another opportunity to gain mileage together, strengthen their understanding of the machinery and continue preparations for the new organisation’s competitive debut.
Further details of the team’s arrival, alongside the wider changes to next year’s grid, feature in Pit Debrief’s comprehensive guide to the 2027 FIA Formula 3 season.
DAMS Lucas Oil completes Barcelona field with unchanged line-up
DAMS Lucas Oil will complete the 30-driver field with Alexander Abkhazava, Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi and Miguel Costa, retaining its line-up from the opening test at Jerez.
The French outfit enters Barcelona following a mixed opening programme, during which its drivers gained valuable experience while encountering several interruptions.
Abkhazava experienced difficulties during Tuesday’s afternoon session when officials deleted his lap times following a post-session fuel-sample infringement. However, the team returned to action on Wednesday, allowing its drivers to continue evaluating the machinery and completing their planned running.
Costa demonstrated encouraging pace during the opening test, while Bhirombhakdi also featured among the leading drivers during Wednesday afternoon’s session. Their performances provided DAMS with additional information as the team assessed its preparations for 2027.
For the French organisation, the final test represents another opportunity to develop its technical understanding and evaluate driver performance following its first two seasons in the championship.
Although participation does not necessarily confirm a race seat for 2027, the Barcelona sessions will provide another important assessment opportunity before the winter break.
Barcelona offers final comparison with 2025 post-season benchmark
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has regularly featured in FIA F3 testing programmes, providing teams with extensive historical information about car performance, tyre behaviour and changing track conditions.
During the 2025 Barcelona post-season test, Campos Racing established the fastest overall lap through Théophile Naël, who recorded a 1:28.398 during the second morning session. His performance provides a useful historical benchmark as teams return for the final official running of 2026.
However, the significance of comparing lap times across different testing programmes remains limited. Variations in weather conditions, track temperature, tyre selection and fuel loads can influence performance considerably, while teams may prioritise different objectives throughout the sessions.
For returning drivers, Barcelona will provide an opportunity to evaluate improvements in their understanding of the Dallara F3 2025 and compare their latest performances with previous experience.
Meanwhile, newcomers will aim to strengthen their confidence in the machinery, particularly during qualifying simulations and longer race runs. The circuit’s technical demands should allow them to identify areas requiring further improvement before their expected championship debuts.
Consequently, the final test will provide teams with valuable information as they begin shaping their development priorities for the winter break.
2026 FIA F3 Barcelona post-season testing: Full entry list
The final official 2026 post-season test will feature 30 drivers representing ten teams. David replaces Macedo at Van Amersfoort Racing, while the remaining 29 drivers return after participating at Jerez.
The entry list, as confirmed by the official FIA Formula 3 preview, is as follows:
- #1 Salim Hanna (COL) — Campos Racing
- #2 Mattia Colnaghi (ARG) — Campos Racing
- #3 Ernesto Rivera (MEX) — Campos Racing
- #4 Niccolò Maccagnani (ITA) — Trident
- #5 Kean Nakamura-Berta (GBR) — Trident
- #6 Sebastian Wheldon (USA) — Trident
- #7 Maciej Gładysz (POL) — MP Motorsport
- #8 Zhenrui Chi (ITA) — MP Motorsport
- #9 Matteo De Palo (ITA) — MP Motorsport
- #10 Taito Kato (JPN) — ART Grand Prix
- #11 Enzo Yeh (TPE) — ART Grand Prix
- #12 Emanuele Olivieri (ITA) — ART Grand Prix
- #14 Yevan David (SRI) — Van Amersfoort Racing
- #15 Enzo Deligny (FRA) — Van Amersfoort Racing
- #16 Rashid Al Dhaheri (UAE) — Van Amersfoort Racing
- #17 Pedro Clerot (BRA) — Rodin Motorsport
- #18 Alessandro Giusti (FRA) — Rodin Motorsport
- #19 Reza Seewooruthun (GBR) — Rodin Motorsport
- #20 Alex Powell (USA) — PREMA Racing
- #21 Martin Molnár (HUN) — PREMA Racing
- #22 Jin Nakamura (JPN) — PREMA Racing
- #23 Woohyun Shin (KOR) — Hitech
- #24 Kanato Le (JPN) — Hitech
- #25 Keanu Al Azhari (UAE) — Hitech
- #26 James Egozi (USA) — AIX Racing
- #27 Gabriel Gomez (BRA) — AIX Racing
- #28 Dion Gowda (IND) — AIX Racing
- #29 Alexander Abkhazava (KAZ) — DAMS Lucas Oil
- #30 Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (THA) — DAMS Lucas Oil
- #31 Miguel Costa (BRA) — DAMS Lucas Oil
Although the testing entry retains the AIX Racing designation, LN4 Fusion will take over its place on the grid for the 2027 championship. Meanwhile, all other team names reflect the official Barcelona testing entry list.
How to follow the 2026 FIA F3 Barcelona post-season test
Both days of running will be available to follow through the official FIA Formula 3 website, which will provide a live blog covering the sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Fans will therefore be able to follow the latest lap times, track developments and interruptions as teams complete their final official testing programmes.
The championship will also publish session reports and interviews following the day’s running, providing further insight into driver performances and the information teams gather ahead of 2027. Additional behind-the-scenes content will be available through FIA F3’s official social media channels.
Meanwhile, Pit Debrief will continue covering the final post-season test following its earlier reports from Jerez, where Nakamura-Berta, Macedo and Giusti established the leading times across the four sessions.
With the championship’s final official running of 2026 scheduled to conclude on Tuesday afternoon, attention will subsequently turn towards analysing the information collected across both Spanish circuits.
For returning drivers, the Barcelona test offers a final opportunity to refine their preparations before the winter break. Meanwhile, newcomers can continue developing their understanding of FIA F3 machinery as they prepare for their first full campaigns.
The final two days will therefore bring the 2026 championship’s on-track programme to a close while providing another important foundation for the increasingly competitive 2027 FIA Formula 3 season.
