Ugo Ugochukwu wins FIA Formula 3 Championship

Ugo Ugochukwu, a 19-year-old Nigerian-American driver, has won the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship. Driving for Campos Racing, Ugochukwu secured the title at the season finale in Madrid, finishing second in the final race to clinch the championship with 159 points. He becomes the first American driver to win the title in the modern era of the competition.

British driver Freddie Slater, an Audi junior, finished as the runner-up with 145 points. Despite missing the title, Slater has been promoted to the Formula 2 Championship for the 2027 season, where he will drive for Invicta Racing.

Ugochukwu, the son of Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba and Italian designer Luca Orlandi, expressed pride in his Nigerian heritage, stating he hopes to serve as a role model for young people in Africa. The championship race also saw Finland’s Tuukka Taponen secure his first F3 victory.