Ugochukwu becomes America’s first FIA F3 champion

Ugo Ugochukwu has become the first American to win the current iteration of the FIA Formula 3 Championship, in a final race showdown at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The New York-born driver arrived at the final round in Madrid 15 points adrift of previous leader Freddie Slater, ahead of a weekend including two feature races to make up for the loss of the Bahrain round earlier this year. After qualifying in the top 10 for both races while his British rival Slater struggled, Ugochukwu finished eighth in the Sprint and fourth in the first feature race to level the scores.

Sunday’s final race saw a simple equation with whoever finished ahead out of the two title rivals taking the championship, and it was Ugochukwu who secured second place – with Slater down in eighth – to win the title in his second F3 season and join the likes of Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto as an F3 champion.

“It’s super special,” Ugochukwu told RACER. “It sounds really great to achieve this and for sure this was the goal at the start of the year, to finally clinch this title. I knew we were in a good place coming into the race and we put ourselves in a good position after qualifying. So today was about executing and doing the job properly, no mistakes and just bringing it home.

“For sure there is pressure there but I felt I kept it under control really well. Just focusing on keeping the tires alive, keeping my gap to the cars behind. I tried to put a little pressure to go for the win as well but with what was at stake, a risky move we couldn't really afford. So it was just about keeping it clean and keeping our P2 to secure the championship.”

Steady performances throughout clinched the F3 crown for Ugochukwu at the final round in Madrid. Clive Mason/Getty Images

While it is now known as the FIA Formula 3 Championship, Ugochukwu also becomes the first driver from the U.S. to take the title of what was previously branded GP3 since 2010, as part of the feeder series to Formula 1.

“Super proud to be the first American to get this championship. That was what our goal was and now look forward to what's next,” Ugochukwu said. “F2 is the next logical step on the ladder to everyone's dream, F1. So, I’ll enjoy this title a bit and we'll see what 2027 brings.

“I think it will be [F2]. Nothing I can announce yet but for sure some good news I think will be coming in the next two months.

“F1 is the ultimate goal and the best way to prove yourself is winning Formula 3, winning Formula 2 and so I'll just keep focused on doing what I'm doing. For now, I'll focus on what's right in front of me next year and after that we'll see where that brings.”