Ernesto Rivera arrives in FIA Formula 3 (F3) in 2026 at a pivotal moment in his career. Not only as a promising Red Bull Junior, but a driver ready to prove he belongs among the categories front runners with Campos Racing.
After building his reputation through British and Spanish F4 in 2024 where he won 1 race in the Spanish series and finished fifth in the Standings, he moved onto Europecup-3 in 2025. He achieved seven podiums, which included three victories and finished fourth in the Championship.
Now stepping into the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship, Rivera carries clear momentum. Yet the challenge ahead is significant. The F3 grid is notoriously competitive, the race weekends are longer and more demanding, and the scrutiny is greater than ever under the watchful eyes of Formula 1 teams.
An injury haltering momentum
Earlier this year, the Red Bull Junior headed to New Zealand to compete with M2 Competition in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT). Across four rounds, Rivera accumulated 134 points, demonstrating strong pace and consistency throughout the campaign. However, his momentum was halted during the final round at Highlands, where a crash in Saturday’s Race 1 ruled him out of the New Zealand Grand Prix with injury.
The setback not only ended his Oceania campaign prematurely but also impacted his preparations for the FIA Formula 3 season. The injury prevented Rivera from participating in F3 pre-season testing in Barcelona, with Patrick Heuzenroeder stepping in during his absence.
Speaking about his recovery in a press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Rivera remained positive, explaining that his focus has been on returning to full fitness as quickly as possible. While missing valuable testing mileage, he downplayed the long-term impact, noting that conditions in Barcelona during the race weekend will differ significantly from those seen in pre-season running.
“Yeah, recovery has been great. I’m going to physiotherapy every day and trying to recover as fast as possible,” Rivera said. “I don’t think the feedback is so important because Barcelona is in a very… the Barcelona race is in a very long time, so the conditions will be very different. But, of course, I will ask about all the tests.”
Rivera’s learnings ahead of the 2026 F3 season
When asked by Pit Debrief on his preparations and what he has learnt from previous campaigns, he admitted that his build up to the 2026 F3 season with Campos hasn’t entirely gone to plan, but that learnings from his team mates, Théophile Naël and Ugo Ugochukwu, who were able to gain valuable data during testing.
“Well, yeah. I didn’t get to the pre-season test, but I learned a lot from my teammates, which [were] second here in the post-season test.”
For Rivera, the most important area of growth has been adapting to one of the biggest technical differences between other series and Formula 3, the tyres.
“And, yeah, I think the main thing that is different from F3 to the other categories is the tyres. So, yeah, I was putting a lot of focus on the tyre to be able to deliver on a single lap.”
Tyre preparation and maximising performance over a single qualifying lap are often decisive in F3, where track position often dictates the race outcome. Those learnings, build from observation and experience, are shaping his approach heading into the final weeks before the F3 season commences in Melbourne.
Milestones in his rookie year
With 2026 still in its infancy and several changes from last season reshaping the landscape, Rivera was asked whether his targets in F3 extended further than the obvious goals of wins and championships. While fighting at the front remains non-negotiable, his focus also lies in development.
“Well, obviously, I aim to fight at the front of things, that’s the main part” He said. But, I also want to learn a lot as a driver as it’s a big step from Eurocup-3 and being in the F1 Paddock i’m looking forward [to] a lot.”
For Rivera, simply operating within the Formula One paddock marks a milestone in itself. The exposure, professionalism and pressure that come with it offer a steep but valuable learning curve.
His experience as a Red Bull Junior
For Ernesto Rivera, being part of the Red Bull Junior Team has been as much about learning as performing. Asked about his experience within the program and how it has shaped him as a driver, Rivera was reflective but clear on the benefits.
“Yeah, I’ve learned a lot while being in the Red Bull Junior team,” he said. The simulator is great over there. The engineers are great.”
Beyond the technical side, the program’s structure demands high standards physically as well. “We have the people working really hard. Also, on the physical side, we also have a lot of physical tests. So, we have to be fit,” Rivera explained.
Despite changes over time, the core culture within the academy remains unchanged. “And, yeah, the atmosphere is still the same. Same expectation as when Dr. Marko was there. So, yeah, not much changed.”
For Rivera, his rookie season in F3 Championship with Campos Racing in 2026 promises to be a year full of learning and development. With the support of the Red Bull Junior Team behind him, Rivera is entering the category with both strong backing and high expectations.
