After closing the 2025 FIA Formula 3 season with two pole positions and a career-best fourth-place finish in the Monza Feature Race, Brad Benavides returns to AIX Racing as the reference point of their 2026 F3 line-up. As the most experienced member of the three-driver squad, he provides structure and continuity as the team looks to improve on its ninth-place finish in the Teams’ Championship.
Alongside Fernando Barrichello and Yevan David, Benavides forms part of a balanced trio blending experience with emerging talent. However, it is his understanding of the rhythm of an F3 weekend — particularly the precision required in the all-important Qualifying sessions — that increasingly shapes the team’s tone as preparations conclude ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
During a virtual media session attended by Pit Debrief, Benavides reflected on his role within AIX Racing and outlined his outlook for the 2026 campaign.
Continuity and familiarity strengthen communication at AIX Racing
In junior single-seater racing, marginal gains often determine whether a team progresses or stalls. Therefore, familiarity inside the garage can prove as valuable as outright speed. Benavides recognises that dynamic clearly. Having already built relationships within the team environment, he enters 2026 without the adaptation period that typically follows line-up changes.
Responding to a question from Pit Debrief about the new AIX Racing line-up, Benavides pointed to his prior experience alongside Barrichello and David in the 2024 Euroformula Open Championship. That shared history, he explained, allows the trio to communicate more effectively and operate within a similar professional framework.
He said: “Well, we’ve known each other for the past years. It helps with, I’d say, just overall communication with the team and time efficient because we have a similar work ethic sort of framework given our previous years working together. So it’s definitely more ideal than not.”
His answer highlights more than simple familiarity. It reflects alignment in preparation, in feedback and in expectations. This could prove vital for AIX Racing as they seek to improve their standing within the F3 ranks, and for Benavides himself who will be hoping for a more successful 2026 season after a slow start to 2025.
Benavides on carrying late-season momentum into 2026
After missing the opening two rounds of the 2025 season, Benavides rejoined the F3 grid at Imola. His return proved challenging, and early results did not reflect his underlying pace. However, a turning point arrived in Austria, where he qualified second and secured his first points of the campaign with ninth place in the Feature Race at the Red Bull Ring.
From there, his form strengthened considerably. He claimed pole position at Spa-Francorchamps and repeated the feat at Monza, before converting that pace into a fourth-place finish in the Italian finale. That late-season surge reshaped perceptions of his 2025 campaign and established Qualifying as a key strength.
Reflecting on that momentum, Benavides acknowledged the importance of those standout weekends and the consistency he found across the closing rounds.
“Spa and Monza definitely were great highlights from last year, as well as Austria. As the last five rounds of the championship, I was able to be basically in the front row of those three rounds.”
Those results, he suggested, offered more than isolated peaks. They demonstrated repeatable performance at the sharp end of the grid.
Benavides hoping for further F3 success in 2026 with AIX Racing
Looking ahead to 2026, he expressed confidence that experience and stability within AIX Racing could help him build on that foundation.
“So given the quality performance out of those five rounds and coming into this year, I think if I’m able to just carry that through, together with my experience and with the team that I’ve already embedded in very well with, to get along with extremely well, then I’m looking very much forward to it.”
Nevertheless, Benavides avoided bold predictions. When asked about expectations and targets, he adopted a philosophical tone shaped by both success and setback.
“And in terms of expectations or what results we can achieve, I think it always just unravels itself the way it’s supposed to. And if that’s good, like it was last year, then great. I’m more than happy to be able to celebrate doing what I love most and having success.”
Benavides emphasises faith and focus ahead of 2026 Melbourne F3 opener
With pre-season testing in Barcelona complete and Melbourne on the horizon, Benavides now turns his attention fully to execution. While performance objectives remain clear, he places particular emphasis on mindset as the campaign begins.
He explained: “So my mentality has always sort of been whatever can happen will happen. I’ve lived my life out of faith and so looking ahead at Melbourne and starting the season, I just, I’d say, you know, just enjoy it and give my all like always and it’ll be what it has to be.”
That philosophy underpins his approach to 2026 and as the lights prepare to go out in Melbourne, Benavides steps into the season not only as AIX Racing’s most experienced driver, but also as a steady presence intent on converting promise into consistent performance.
