Ugo Ugochukwu arrives at the final round of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 (F3) Championship with everything still to play for, as the title battle heads to the new Madrid circuit for a season-ending weekend unlike any other.
Speaking in the 2026 F3 Madrid Virtual Media Roundtable, with Pit Debrief in attendance, Ugochukwu reflected on his confidence heading into the decisive weekend, Campos Racing’s strength throughout the season and the lessons learned from the two-day test at the new circuit.
The Campos Racing driver has endured a more difficult run of recent rounds, but arrives in Madrid confident that the final weekend provides an opportunity to reset and return to the front.
“Yeah, well for sure it’d be good to have a good weekend. Obviously quite an important kind of what kind of comes down to this, you know, the championship. So yeah, definitely needs to be a step up in performance from last few weekends, but I’m feeling pretty confident coming into here.
“Had a good test here a few weeks ago. I’m feeling pretty good around the track. So yeah, I think we’re in a good place to go attack and go full send.”
Campos’ consistency key to 2026 success
Campos Racing has been one of the standout teams throughout the 2026 season, with all three of its drivers securing multiple race victories.
Asked about the team’s success and whether the achievements of Ugochukwu, Ernesto Rivera and Théophile Naël were a testament to the work done throughout the season, Ugochukwu highlighted the close collaboration within the team.
“Yeah, for sure. I think as well, you know, we’re working really well together. We’re pushing each other a lot already, you know, from the workshop on the sim, how to improve, how to be faster.
“And I think, you know, we’ve just been overall very consistent as a team throughout the season. We’ve always been there. And one of us ends up, you know, getting on the top step. So I think it’s been a good year overall.”
That consistency will be particularly important in Madrid, with the Campos trio arriving at the finale with different championship objectives. While Ugochukwu remains in contention for the Drivers’ Championship, Rivera and Naël are both targeting top-three finishes.
Previous Madrid running provides confidence
Unlike a traditional FIA Formula 3 weekend, the drivers have already had an opportunity to experience the new Madrid circuit, completing two days of testing at the venue ahead of the season finale.
The additional running has allowed the teams to gather valuable data and work through the characteristics of the new track before returning for the competitive weekend.
Asked how much that previous experience would influence the 2026 F3 Madrid Round, Ugochukwu explained that Campos had used the break to analyse the information gathered during testing.
“Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, the two tests, the two days of testing, you know, we definitely got our eye around the circuit, kind of seen the main bits about it.
“And I think, you know, in this little break that we haven’t been here, you know, the team has kind of gone through all the data, seen, you know, the little bits that needed improving.
“And yeah, I think the rest of the weekend is going to be same as normal. You know, I think practise will be about getting back into the rhythm and just fine tuning, getting everything ready to go full send in quali.”
Varied characteristics at Madrid
Ugochukwu was immediately impressed by the new venue, with the circuit’s combination of technical and faster sections providing a challenge that requires drivers to commit fully.
“Yeah, it was very fun already from the first run, really. I really enjoyed it. I think it’s a very nice track to drive, in my opinion. And yeah, you need to be right on the limit to be quick. So, I quite enjoyed it. It’s quite smooth as well, overall, and probably a bit more grip than I was expecting as well.
“So, you know, for a street track, I think you’re definitely carrying a lot of speed around here. So, yeah, it’s quite fun.”
The circuit’s varied characteristics mean there is no single section that can be identified as the defining challenge, with Ugochukwu instead expecting drivers to adapt throughout the lap.
“Yeah, I think. Yeah, hard to say specifically, you know, first part of the lap is a bit more kind of straight and slow speed chicanes. Sector two, sector three gets kind of a little bit faster with with more high speed corners.
“So yeah, the the circuit has different kind of characteristics for the lap. And yeah, it’s just about kind of adapting to all of them.
“You know, I think. I think everywhere around the lap is going to be important to nail if you want to be to be on the front row. And yeah, it’s just about adapting to what you get, really.”
Ugochukwu embraces five opportunities to score
The Madrid finale will also feature an unusual format, with two Qualifying sessions, a Sprint Race and two Feature Races creating five separate opportunities for the drivers to score points.
With so much at stake in the championship, Pit Debrief questioned whether the expanded weekend would ease the pressure by giving drivers more opportunities to recover from mistakes, or instead increase it because of how quickly the standings could change.
For Ugochukwu, the additional opportunities represent another chance to fight for victory rather than an added source of pressure.
“Yeah, no, on my side as well, I think. Oh, it’s good on my side, you know, another race, another chance to gain points, to get another race win under my belt.
“So yeah, definitely no added pressure. I’ve got nothing to lose. So yeah, just another quali to try and go and get P1.”
A season of development
Ugochukwu’s 2026 campaign began with another championship battle in New Zealand for the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) before eventually leading into his FIA Formula 3 title fight, giving him another season of experience against many of the same drivers.
Pit Debrief also explored how the rivalry between the championship contenders had contributed to Ugochukwu’s own development, asking how he had evolved since the beginning of the year and how competing against Slater had helped his own progression.
“Yeah, it’s been good. You know, I think it’s, I guess, you know, we’ve been in this position before, you know, last weekend, fighting for the championship. So I guess we both kind of experienced that situation.
“But yeah, it’s been really good, for sure. Another year of racing, more experience under my belt. Definitely learned a few things throughout the year.
“Pretty happy with how it went overall. And for sure, you know, there were definitely a little things that could have been better. But which I’ve, you know, learned and for sure will take on to next year and further my career. So it’s been all around enjoyable 2026 to be fighting for two titles in a positive year.”
Campos ready to let its drivers fight
With Ugochukwu, Rivera and Naël all fighting for different championship objectives, managing the three drivers’ respective targets could be another important factor during the finale.
Ugochukwu, however, does not expect the team’s approach to change in the 2026 F3 season finale at Madrid, with each driver focused on maximising their own weekend.
“Yeah, I think the team is ready for the weekend, last one of the year. Home race, last home race went pretty well. But I don’t think their approach changes too much.
“I think at the end, me, Théo and Ernesto, we’re going to try to maximise our own weekends as best as possible. And by doing that, that’s going to allow the team to pick up the team’s championship as well if we all do our own bits.
“So, yeah, I think nothing really changed on our side. We’ll just try to maximise our own qualifying to get us in a good position for the races.”
For Ugochukwu, the expanded format is ultimately another opportunity to put points on the board. With the championship fight capable of changing dramatically across the weekend, the focus remains on maximising each individual session.
Looking back on 2026
After an entire season at the front of the FIA Formula 3 field, Ugochukwu was also asked to reflect on his campaign and assess his own performance out of 10.
“Yeah, maybe a seven or an eight as well. Yeah, for sure. It’s been a good year overall. We put ourselves in a good position to be fighting for the title coming into the last rounds.
“But yeah, there’s so many factors in F3. It’s not just about speed and pace. There’s many other factors that contribute to having a good weekend.
“So for sure, some of the weekends could have gone better when you look back at it. But I think everyone can kind of say the same about where they lost points and so on.
“So yeah, it’s just about taking everything on and maximising the next year even better.”
With the championship now heading to its final destination, Ugochukwu’s message is clear. The difficult rounds are behind him, the Madrid circuit is no longer an unknown, and five opportunities await him to fight for the points needed to secure the FIA Formula 3 title.
