AIX Racing has officially confirmed that Brad Benavides will complete its 2025 FIA Formula 3 (F3) line-up. The American driver returns to the series with renewed determination following a highly successful 2024 Euroformula Open campaign. He joins the Emirati-German outfit ahead of the first triple-header of the season, stepping into the seat previously occupied by Nikita Bedrin and Freddie Slater.
A seat in flux: Bedrin’s departure and Slater’s debut
Although AIX Racing enjoyed a promising start to the 2025 season, the team faced unexpected challenges in maintaining a consistent driver line-up. Nikita Bedrin initially delivered strong performances in Melbourne, securing sixth place in the Sprint Race and narrowly missing out on a podium with fourth in the Feature Race. However, Bedrin made the surprising decision to leave the championship prior to Round 2 in Bahrain, electing instead to focus fully on his Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) campaign.
Consequently, AIX Racing called up British talent Freddie Slater to fill the vacant seat. Slater impressed immediately, securing a remarkable second-place finish in the Bahrain Sprint Race. Nevertheless, his commitment to his own FRECA campaign meant that he too would only contest a single Formula 3 round.
Benavides returns to F3 after successful 2024 Euroformula Open Championship
With the seat once again unfilled and the Imola-Monaco-Barcelona triple-header looming, AIX Racing turned to 23-year-old Brad Benavides. The Florida-born driver brings experience across several junior categories and arrives with a reinvigorated sense of purpose following a dominant 2024 season.
Benavides made his Formula 3 debut in 2022 with Carlin, now Rodin Motorsport. Despite scoring only three points and finishing 23rd in the championship standings, he demonstrated glimpses of potential, particularly in Spa-Francorchamps, where he capitalised on mixed conditions to qualify near the front and secure eighth in the Sprint Race.
In 2023, Benavides made the ambitious leap to Formula 2 with PHM Racing by Charouz. However, he endured a difficult season, failing to score points and suffering from several on-track incidents. As a result, the team replaced him with Josh Mason for the final four rounds, and Benavides concluded the season 22nd overall.
After disappointing F2 and F3 campaigns, Benavides opted to return to the Euroformula Open in 2024 with Team Motorpark. This decision proved transformative. Over 24 races, he finished on the podium 20 times and claimed nine victories. His consistent performance culminated in winning the Drivers’ Championship with 431 points, comfortably ahead of BVM Racing’s Francesco Simonazzi.
This resurgence has repositioned Benavides as a competitive force and provided the momentum needed for a return to FIA Formula 3.
A new chapter with AIX Racing
Now rejoining the F3 grid with AIX Racing, Benavides replaces both Bedrin and Slater as the team’s full-time driver alongside Javier Sagrera and Nicola Marinangeli. His return begins with the Imola Round from 16 to 18 May, followed by expected appearances in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Benavides stated:
“I am truly grateful and excited to be back with AIX Racing. It is always a blessing to return to the grid, and I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel for Imola.”
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me — family, friends, and the team — for always believing in my path. I know it will be a tough challenge, but I will give my all, always. Racing is a testament to who I am, so it is my purpose to make sure I honour this opportunity with my complete power.”
Although he faces the challenge of integrating mid-season and following in the footsteps of two strong predecessors, Benavides arrives with confidence and clear intentions. With a championship title under his belt and a fresh start in F3, the American will aim to re-establish himself among the series’ competitive field.
