Ugo Ugochukwu Makes History as First American to Win FIA Formula 3 Title

Nigerian-American teenager Ugo Ugochukwu has been crowned the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Champion after finishing second in the season-ending Feature Race at the new Madring circuit in Madrid on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Campos Racing driver secured the championship with a composed second-place finish behind MP Motorsport’s Tuukka Taponen, ending the season with 159 points.

British rival Freddie Slater, who entered the weekend 15 points ahead of Ugochukwu, finished eighth in the Feature Race and ended the championship 14 points behind the new champion.

Ugochukwu’s victory makes him the first driver representing the United States to win the modern FIA Formula 3 championship.

Born in New York City on April 23, 2007, to Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba and Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi, Ugochukwu’s success has also been celebrated in Nigeria and across Africa because of his Nigerian heritage.

He arrived in Madrid level on 141 points with Slater following Saturday’s races. While Slater struggled in qualifying, Ugochukwu started Sunday’s decisive Feature Race from second on the grid.

Taponen controlled the race from pole position, while a late Safety Car created a one-lap sprint to the finish. Ugochukwu avoided trouble and maintained second place to secure the championship.

Campos Racing also claimed the Teams’ Championship, completing a double at its home event.

Ugochukwu joined Campos Racing for the 2026 season after a difficult rookie campaign with Prema in 2025, when he finished 16th in the championship. He had previously been part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.

His move to Campos produced a major turnaround, with Ugochukwu recording seven podium finishes and two victories during the season.

The teenager had also won the Formula Regional Oceania championship earlier in 2026 and claimed victory at the 2024 Macau Grand Prix.

Speaking after securing the title, Ugochukwu said the objective was to avoid mistakes and bring the car home.

“We knew we just had to keep it clean to clinch the title, and that’s what we did. No mistakes, brought it home and super pleased,” he said.

The FIA Formula 3 championship is part of the official single-seater pathway towards Formula 1, sitting one level below Formula 2.

Ugochukwu has already tested a Formula 1 car this year and could now be in line for a move to Formula 2 in 2027.