Ugo Ugochukwu of PREMA Racing is aiming for his first win in FIA Formula 3 as he heads into the Belgian GP. After a strong run of form, including two top-five finishes and a season-best P4 at Spielberg, the McLaren Development Driver is confident in his recent progress. Aiming for a good result at Spa-Francorchamps.
Ugochukwu confident for the Belgian GP after two top five finishes
Ugochukwu believes his recent performances mark a turning point in his season. He said the “last two rounds have been definitely a step forward,” showing signs of steady improvement. At the Red Bull Ring, he delivered strong pace throughout the weekend. Silverstone offered another chance, but a tyre strategy error in the Feature Race cost him points after starting from the front row.
Despite that, he took confidence from his qualifying and Sprint Race performances. He gained positions, showed solid race pace, and proved he could fight near the front. Looking ahead to the Belgian GP, Ugochukwu remains focused on keeping the momentum going. Building on what he and the team have learned.
“The last two rounds have been definitely a step forward compared to the beginning of the Championship. Red Bull Ring pace was really good and at Silverstone as well to be honest, but unfortunately for the Feature Race we made the wrong decision on the tyre strategy, and starting P2, I felt I could have scored a lot of points.”
“But we have to look at the positives, and the pace was good. Quali pace was good too, and also in the Sprint Race, I was able to have a good race pace and make a couple positions. So we’ll see how it is in Spa.”
“Really difficult conditions” could challenge Ugochukwu at the Belgian GP
Ugochukwu expressed that the recent progress has given both him and the team a significant boost in confidence as they approach the final three rounds of the season. The upward momentum has strengthened their determination to finish the campaign on a high note.
Looking ahead to Spa, a circuit he particularly enjoys, Ugochukwu recognised the challenge posed by its notoriously unpredictable weather. He anticipated that the conditions could be especially difficult during the Belgian GP weekend, adding an extra layer of complexity to an already demanding track.
“It’s definitely a boost for the confidence. I think, for the whole team in general, going to the last three rounds, we still want to finish on a high. So that’s what we’re focused on. I really enjoy Spa. I think it could be a really difficult conditions this weekend, but this time, we’ll try to be on top of things, see what things went wrong, and service them and be on top of the track changing, because that’s going to be the most important thing.”
The importance of quick decisions on track
Ugochukwu stressed the importance of staying ahead of changing track conditions and reacting quickly to any issues that arise. Reflecting on past experiences, he recalled a moment when the weather seemed to be improving, only for rain to arrive just as the cars lined up on the grid. That memory reinforced the need for adaptability and sharp decision-making, particularly at a circuit like Spa where the weather can shift in an instant.
“It’s always difficult, I think you need to adapt specifically to what’s happening going to the grid. It looked like it was going to be drying and then rained on the grid, so we had very little time to make the decision.”
“But I’m sure it’s going to be one of those weekends again, as it always is in Spa. The rain is going to play a big factor, so we’ll see. It has been a while since we had proper wet running, so it’s going to be difficult to know who’s going to be quick. Hopefully pace is good in all conditions.”
Belgian GP “quite tricky” for Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu described Spa as a challenging circuit, particularly through its high-speed sections where drivers must push right to the limit. The limited number of laps in the session raises the pressure to get everything right quickly.
He highlighted that track conditions would play a major role in shaping the session. A dry Free Practice would simplify things for everyone, but if the weather proves unpredictable, adaptability becomes essential. In changing conditions, drivers will need to quickly identify the dry lines and get up to speed immediately—something Ugochukwu expects to be especially difficult around the demanding Belgian layout.
“I think the track is quite tricky, especially in all the high-speed – you need to be on the limit, and it’s difficult with not many laps. So, it’ll depend on whether FP is dry. I think it’ll make it a lot easier for everybody. If the conditions are changing, then I think adaptability is going to be the main thing, looking for the dry parts of the track, being able to get onto the limit really quickly, which is going to be really tricky.”
Qualifying on pole is “the goal into every weekend”
Ugochukwu approaches each weekend with the clear objective of qualifying on pole, and Spa is no different. He outlined a familiar process for the team—starting with a strong Free Practice session to get on top of things early, then carefully evaluating the car’s feel before pushing hard in Qualifying.
While he recognises that pole position isn’t the most critical factor at the Belgian GP, Ugochukwu remains highly motivated. Recent performances, where he came close to securing pole in the last two rounds, have boosted his confidence. With that momentum behind him, he sees Spa as a strong opportunity to finally clinch the top spot in Qualifying.
“That’s definitely the goal going into every weekend. We’ll approach the weekend as we normally do, get on top of things in FP, then see how the feeling is in the car before going full attack in Qualifying. Around here, being on Pole isn’t the most important thing, but to get a pole position – we’ve been quite close the last two rounds, so it’d be good to get it here.”
