Ugo Ugochukwu has become the first driver from the United States to win the FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship, completing a major breakthrough in his young motorsport career.
The 19-year-old secured the 2026 title after finishing second for Campos Racing in the final race of the season at Madrid’s Madring circuit on Sunday, 13 September.
Ugochukwu entered the decisive race level on points with his main rival, British driver Freddie Slater. Starting from second position, the American stayed close to race leader Tuukka Taponen and avoided trouble during a tense final contest.
Taponen won the race for MP Motorsport, while Ugochukwu’s second-place finish was enough to secure the championship. Slater finished eighth.
The official FIA Formula 3 report confirmed that Ugochukwu ended the season with 159 points, 14 ahead of Slater, who finished with 145.
A controlled finish in Madrid
Ugochukwu remained within touching distance of Taponen for much of the race but did not take unnecessary risks while the championship was at stake.
A late safety-car period created a one-lap contest to the finish. Taponen retained the lead at the restart, while Ugochukwu held off Pedro Clerot to cross the line in second place.
“We knew we just had to keep it clean to clinch the title,” Ugochukwu said after the race, according to FIA Formula 3.
The result completed a remarkable turnaround. Slater arrived in Madrid with a 15-point championship lead, but a difficult opening race left the two drivers level before the season finale.
Reuters reported that the victory made Ugochukwu the first FIA Formula 3 champion from the United States.
Nigerian and Italian family background
Ugochukwu was born in New York City on 23 April 2007. He is the son of Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba and Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi.
Although he competes under the American flag, his Nigerian heritage has made his success particularly significant to motorsport followers in Nigeria and across the African diaspora.
His mother rose to international prominence after winning the M-Net Face of Africa competition in 1998. She later worked with several leading international fashion brands.
Ugochukwu began karting at a young age before moving into single-seater racing. His progress attracted the attention of McLaren, and he spent several years in the Formula One team’s driver development programme.
Progress through the junior categories
The new champion won the inaugural Euro 4 Championship in 2023. The Euro 4 Championship described his latest achievement as another major step in a career that has developed rapidly since his Formula 4 years.
In 2024, Ugochukwu won the Macau Grand Prix, becoming the first American to win the prestigious event in 43 years.
He entered FIA Formula 3 with Prema Racing in 2025 and finished 16th in his first season. He moved to Campos Racing for the 2026 campaign and produced a much stronger title challenge.
Campos also secured the 2026 Teams’ Championship, finishing with 334 points. The team had already confirmed that title before Ugochukwu won the drivers’ crown.
Another step towards Formula One
FIA Formula 3 sits below Formula 2 on the recognised route towards Formula One. Several recent F3 champions, including Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto, have progressed to the highest level of international motor racing.
Winning the championship does not guarantee Ugochukwu a Formula One seat, but it strengthens his position as one of the leading young drivers seeking to advance through the sport’s development system.
His next expected step is promotion to Formula 2, where he would face another demanding test before becoming eligible for serious consideration by Formula One teams.
