Ugo Ugochukwu, a young driver from the United States, became the first American driver to win the Formula 3 championship. He achieved this success thanks to the consistency and work that the Campos Racing team put in throughout the year.
In the second race in Madrid, Ugo Ugochukwu finished in second place. In the final race of the year, Tuukka Taponen secured his first Formula 3 victory.
Prior to this, Ugochukwu had good chances of winning the championship because his rival, Freddy Slater, did not score points in the first Saturday race, and started from eighth place in the second stage, whereas Ugochukwu started from second place.
The 19-year-old American told F3 magazine that although he felt he was in a good position to win the championship on that day, he did not relax. He noted that one must always consider many small factors that might occur and remain vigilant.
He commented on the race's progress, saying it was executed quite well. Ugochukwu knew he had a good chance to try and get ahead at the start, but Tuukka successfully defended his position. The race then seemed very long, and he had to concentrate on tire management and maintaining distance from the drivers behind him.
Ugochukwu emphasized that the championship win is proof of consistency and the work done throughout the season.
In the last race, Ugochukwu started from second place but decided to start cautiously to avoid any issues, such as an early start. He felt he was controlling his destiny. He added that a clean start was a priority, as they could not afford a stop or an early start. Although leading at the start would be preferable, as managing from the front is easier and cleaner, he understood that he had to adapt to any situation.
Regardless of whether he was in second or third place, he tried to drive the race as best as possible. He attempted a maneuver later to apply pressure, but Tuukka proved fast in key areas, and he could not get close enough. Ugochukwu concluded that qualifying was the key moment this weekend, and they handled it well to secure a favorable position on the challenging track.
Ultimately, Campos Racing driver Ugochukwu finished the championship with 159 points, while his rival Freddy Slater came in second with 145 points. Tuukka Taponen ranked third in the drivers' standings after his victory in the second race in Madrid.
Previously, Campos Racing also won the team title in 2026 when Ugochukwu finished fourth, and Ernesto Rivera and Teofil Naël finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the first race.