Nigerian American driver Ugo Ugochukwu Orlandi has made history as the first FIA Formula 3 champion from the United States. The 19-year-old Campos Racing star sealed the 2026 title with a composed second-place finish in the season finale at the Madring in Madrid on Sunday.
Ugochukwu overturned a 15-point deficit heading into the final weekend to finish the season 14 points clear of Audi junior Freddie Slater. The New York-born Nigerian American held second place throughout the final race, including through a late Safety Car period, to secure the championship.
The tall teenager entered the Spanish Grand Prix support event trailing Slater. Strong results across the Madrid rounds allowed him to draw level and then pull ahead as Slater struggled. Slater started the decisive Feature Race from eighth and finished in the same position on a circuit where overtaking was difficult.
Finnish driver Tuukka Taponen claimed his maiden F3 victory in the final race, holding off Ugochukwu from pole. A late Safety Car set up a one-lap sprint, but Taponen stayed calm to take the win while Ugochukwu safely brought home second place. The result left Ugochukwu on 159 points to Slater’s 145.
“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,” the Nigerian American said after the race. He later added: “We did it, FIA F3 Champions. Super, super happy and I can’t thank the team enough for an amazing year.”
The victory marks a strong rebound for Ugochukwu. A former McLaren junior, he finished 16th in his rookie F3 season with Prema in 2025 before switching to Campos for 2026. He delivered consistent podiums (seven in total, with two race wins) to claim the crown and also won the Formula Regional Oceania title earlier in the year.
Ugochukwu becomes the first American—and the first Nigerian American—to win the modern FIA Formula 3 title. He follows recent champions such as Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto, both of whom progressed to Formula 1.
Campos Racing also secured the teams’ championship. With an F1 test already under his belt in 2026, the Nigerian American will now look toward the next stage of his career after a breakthrough championship campaign.
