Brad Benavides enters the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season determined to build on the standout moments of his previous campaign. Driving once again for AIX Racing, Benavides aims to transform flashes of brilliance into consistent results in his 2026 F3 campaign.
After securing two pole positions in 2025 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Benavides demonstrated his ability to compete at the front. Those performances not only underlined his raw pace but also proved that he can match some of the strongest drivers on the grid. As a result, he now approaches the new campaign with increased belief and a clear intention to convert potential into consistent results across the season.
A positive yet imperfect start to the 2026 F3 season for Benavides
The new campaign began at Albert Park Circuit, where Benavides showed encouraging race pace despite a challenging qualifying session. Although he ultimately secured a P7 finish, the weekend presented a mix of positives and frustrations that reflected both his strengths and areas for improvement. Reflecting on the off-season and his eagerness to return to racing, Benavides explained how central motorsport remains in his life and mindset.
“It was a quiet winter. But, you know, my life is racing. So everything that doesn’t have to do with racing, it just seems like I’m just waiting. So I’m extremely grateful to be racing again.”
He then offered a more detailed assessment of his Melbourne weekend, acknowledging the difficulties he faced early on while also highlighting the progress made during the races.
“I’d say that in the aftermath of the opening round, I’m content with P7 but at the same time, it wasn’t the greatest of starts. Qualifying didn’t go as I’d hoped and that put me in a more difficult position for the rest of the weekend. Thankfully on Sunday, I was able to make up quite a lot of positions and prove that the race pace can be there.”
Importantly, his recovery drive on Sunday reinforced his reputation as a determined racer who can fight through the field. Moreover, it demonstrated that when given the opportunity, his race pace is strong enough to challenge for higher positions.
Benavides and AIX Racing building on a strong team partnership in 2026 F3 campaign
Benavides continues with AIX Racing in 2026, strengthening a partnership that showed clear promise last season. While the team experienced inconsistent form throughout 2025, they gradually found momentum in the latter half of the year, delivering more competitive performances.
With that experience now behind them, both driver and team enter the new season with a stronger foundation. Benavides emphasised how familiarity with the car, circuits, and team environment can play a decisive role in unlocking further performance.
“Experience is extremely useful, obviously, because then I have references and I know what it’s all going to be like. And from there, it’s just about delivering more.”
He also reflected on the standout moments from the previous season, particularly his performances at Spa and Monza, which served as proof of his capabilities.
“I think there were good moments last year like in Spa and Monza that definitely proved people wrong. And it showed that if you’re capable to beat the best, then you will be the best. Obviously, I’m not there yet, but there were glimpses of that success.”
Looking ahead, he made it clear that his ambition centres on building upon those flashes of performance and turning them into regular results.
“Carrying that through into this year is the main target, to one-up it. That’s the target in 2026.”
Focus on consistency and Qualifying gains
As the season progresses, Benavides has identified Qualifying as a key area for improvement. Stronger starting positions would allow him to fully exploit his race pace and avoid the need for recovery drives.
At the same time, he plans to draw on his prior experience at familiar circuits to gain an edge over the competition. By combining improved qualifying with consistent execution across race weekends, he believes stronger results will follow.
He outlined this approach with a clear and focused mindset saying, “The most important thing is to focus on the next round and capitalise on tracks that I already know. I’ll be trying to put together a good Qualifying performance, as I did last year, and just continue looking forward with optimism, knowing that I can do it because I’ve done it before.”
This measured outlook highlights both his confidence and his determination to refine the finer details of his performance.
Spa-Francorchamps: a special target for Benavides in 2026 F3 campaign
Among all the circuits on the calendar, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps holds particular significance for Benavides. Not only did he secure a pole position there in 2025, but his current preparation has also created a deeper personal connection to the iconic venue.
Speaking about his anticipation for returning to Spa, he acknowledged the disappointment of not racing there previously.
“I’m very much looking forward to Spa again this year. I think it’s a shame we didn’t get a race there last year.”
He then explained how his simulator preparation has added an unexpected and meaningful link to the circuit.
“Coincidentally, we’ve mainly been doing simulator prep now in a place called Vertex, which is literally next to Eau Rouge. So, just the fact that now some of our prep is being done there, I think builds a nice… I guess it’s like a mini-home race, isn’t it? It’ll be cool once we get there. Hopefully we can have another weekend like we did last year and be able to race and show what we can do.”
This unique situation has only increased his motivation to perform strongly when he returns to one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar.
Momentum and ambition for 2026
Benavides approaches the 2026 season with a clear and focused objective: achieving consistency. While his previous campaign confirmed that he can compete at the highest level in FIA Formula 3, he now aims to deliver strong performances across every race weekend.
With increased experience, renewed confidence, and a solid partnership with AIX Racing, he stands well-positioned to take the next step. If he successfully builds on last year’s high points, he could establish himself as a regular front-runner and a serious contender throughout the season.
