Nigerian-American driver Ugo Ugochukwu has won the 2026 Formula 3 championship, becoming the first driver from the United States to claim the title after finishing second in the final race of the season in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday.
Formula 1 announced the achievement in a post on its official X handle, noting that the 19-year-old finished the championship with 159 points, 14 points ahead of British driver Freddie Slater, who ended the campaign on 145 points.
Ugochukwu, who competes for Campos Racing, entered the final round level on points with Slater after initially trailing the British driver earlier in the season.
With the championship at stake, the Nigerian-American kept out of trouble and secured second place in the season finale, which was enough to give him the overall title.
Finland’s Tuukka Taponen won the final race for his maiden Formula 3 victory, while Ugochukwu finished second and Pedro Clerot completed the podium in third.
Taponen started from pole position and maintained the lead into Turn 1 before controlling the gap to Ugochukwu. A late Safety Car intervention produced a final-lap sprint, but the Finnish driver held his position to take the chequered flag.
Slater, an Audi Development Driver, finished eighth in the race, leaving him second in the championship standings behind Ugochukwu.
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Reacting to his title success, Ugochukwu said the focus was on completing the race without unnecessary risks. “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.”
Born and raised in New York City, Ugochukwu is the son of Nigerian fashion model Oluchi Onweagba and her Italian husband.
His championship success places him among the latest Formula 3 champions to progress towards Formula One. Former F3 champions Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto have since reached the top level of single-seater racing, competing in Formula One for McLaren and Audi respectively.
Formula 3 sits below Formula 2 on the single-seater pathway towards Formula One, making Ugochukwu’s championship an important milestone in his developing motorsport career.
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