Brad Benavides wrapped up his 2025 F3 campaign in 20th place with 18 points, finishing as AIX Racing’s highest-placed driver. Although his year featured inconsistency, retirements, and a challenging start, Benavides made clear progress across the calendar. Notably, his qualifying performance improved dramatically, and he ended the season with a standout result at Monza. Over time, he transformed early frustration into a renewed sense of competitiveness and stability.
A rocky return: Early struggles mar Benavides’ comeback
Brad Benavides rejoined the 2025 F3 grid from Round 3 at Imola, following a turbulent period in the junior single-seater ranks. After finishing 23rd in F3 in 2022 and enduring a difficult year in F2, he rebuilt his form in the 2024 Euroformula Open Championship, where he secured nine victories and 19 podiums. Having tested with HMD Motorsports in Indy NXT earlier in 2025, he returned to F3 with the intention of rebuilding his career.
His comeback at Imola showed early promise. He qualified 14th and advanced to 12th in the Sprint Race. However, in the Feature Race, a collision with Matías Zagazeta on Lap 12 earned him a ten-second penalty, demoting him from 18th to 24th. Consequently, he left without points.
Benavides encountered more difficulties in Monte Carlo. He qualified 10th in Group A, which placed him 19th overall. Although he avoided early chaos to finish 12th in the Sprint Race, he received another ten-second penalty in the Feature Race for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. His race ended in retirement on Lap 19.
Barcelona continued the difficult pattern. After qualifying 21st, he improved to 15th in the Sprint Race but dropped to 24th in the Feature Race. Although he received a five-second penalty for track limits, it did not change the result. After three rounds, Benavides sat 27th in the championship, still point-less and searching for rhythm.
Flashes of promise bring a second-half revival
The second half of Benavides’ season revealed a marked improvement in form, beginning with a breakthrough performance in Spielberg. There, he qualified 2nd on the front row — his strongest Qualifying result to date. A puncture ended his Sprint Race prematurely, yet he recovered well to claim 9th in the Feature Race, scoring his first points of the year.
Although Silverstone brought a return to the midfield, it did not halt his momentum. Benavides qualified 13th and showed stable pace in the Sprint Race, but an incident in the Feature Race led to retirement, preventing him from adding to his points tally.
At Spa-Francorchamps, he produced one of the standout Qualifying performances of the season, taking pole position in tricky mixed conditions. This result underlined his developing control and confidence under pressure. Unfortunately, torrential rain forced the cancellation of the Feature Race, denying him a major opportunity to convert pole into points. He finished 12th in the Sprint Race, narrowly missing the top ten.
Although Budapest appeared to offer a chance to recover ground, the weekend unfolded poorly. He qualified 16th but retired from both races — first in the Sprint Race, then in the Feature Race following a collision.
Nevertheless, Benavides delivered a career-best performance at the season finale in Monza. He topped Group A in Qualifying and secured overall pole. In the Sprint Race, he collected two points, and in the Feature Race, he drove with composure to finish 4th — his highest result in F3. He scored 12 points across the weekend, accounting for two-thirds of his final total.
Strength in Qualifying, struggles in races
Throughout the 2025 season, Benavides demonstrated significant progress, particularly in Qualifying. Initially, he struggled to escape the lower midfield, but he gradually evolved into a genuine one-lap threat. His pole positions at Spa and Monza reflected not only raw pace but also his growing confidence in challenging conditions. These moments defined the second half of his campaign and served as clear indicators of his development.
However, his race-day performances often failed to match his Qualifying strength. He retired from three Feature Races — Monte Carlo, Silverstone, and Budapest — and endured additional setbacks in the Sprint Races at Spielberg and Budapest. Several results slipped away due to incidents, penalties, or misfortune. The ten-second penalty at Imola, the puncture in Spielberg, and the cancellation of the Spa Feature Race all disrupted his rhythm.
Despite these setbacks, Benavides showed resilience and composure, particularly in the final rounds. He responded to pressure with maturity, and his performance in Monza demonstrated his ability to capitalise on a strong Qualifying when the race ran cleanly. While his final points total may not have reflected the full extent of his potential, the progress he displayed offered real promise for the future.
A comeback solidified, with eyes turned to 2026
Benavides concluded the 2025 season as AIX Racing’s top scorer, finishing one point ahead of Nikita Bedrin, who had made a strong start before leaving the team. Bedrin and Freddie Slater both stepped away after early appearances, prompting AIX Racing to bring in Benavides from Round 3 to stabilise their line-up. Over the course of the season, he not only filled that role but also grew into a dependable and increasingly competitive driver.
His performances — especially the poles in Spa and Monza, as well as the top-five Feature Race result in the finale — reasserted his value. In recognition of his contribution and progress, AIX Racing confirmed that Benavides will continue with the team in 2026, completing their F3 roster. He joins Fernando Barrichello, who debuted at Monza, and Sri Lankan racer Yevan David, forming a balanced trio that blends experience with fresh talent.
With a full campaign ahead and clear signs of progress, Benavides enters the 2026 F3 season with momentum. AIX Racing now hopes to convert his evident Qualifying speed into consistent points and podium finishes across the year.
