Ugo Ugochukwu and Campos Racing put championship leads on the line at Spa-Francorchamps
The 2026 FIA Formula 3 season enters the final two rounds before the traditional summer break in August. This weekend the championship heads to Spa-Francorchamps before travelling to the Hungaroring one week later. First, however, all attention is focused on the legendary Belgian venue, regarded as one of the true temples of world motorsport and a favourite among both drivers and fans.
So far this season, two names have stood above the rest: Ugo Ugochukwu and Campos Racing. The American tops the Drivers' standings, while the Alzira-based team leads the Teams' Championship. That success has also been built on the valuable contributions of Théophile Naël and Ernesto Rivera, both of whom have already celebrated race victories this season.
Ugochukwu arrives in Belgium as championship leader with 104 points, holding an 18-point advantage over his closest rival, Britain's Freddie Slater. The Campos Racing driver claimed his maiden FIA Formula 3 victory in the Melbourne Feature Race and has since impressed with his outstanding race management. After scoring points in both Monaco races, he secured a third-place finish in Barcelona. He followed that with second place in the Red Bull Ring Feature Race before enjoying a superb Silverstone weekend, winning Saturday's Sprint Race and finishing third in Sunday's Feature Race. He has also collected two additional points thanks to two fastest laps.
Naël sits third in the standings on 60 points after taking victory in the Barcelona Feature Race and finishing third in Silverstone's Sprint Race. Even so, the feeling remains that luck has not always been on the Frenchman's side at key moments, and his true potential has yet to be fully reflected in the standings. He has claimed three consecutive pole positions in Melbourne, Monaco and Barcelona, making him the championship's most successful qualifier so far. Spa-Francorchamps, with its demanding layout and technical challenges, could provide another ideal opportunity for Naël to fight for top honours.
Rivera has enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign. Those familiar with his previous achievements, however, will hardly be surprised by his performances. The Red Bull Junior Team driver has quickly overcome the disadvantage of reduced pre-season mileage following a winter injury. He immediately impressed by finishing fifth on his FIA Formula 3 debut in Monaco before scoring more points in Barcelona. He then secured his maiden victory in the Sprint Race at the Red Bull Ring and added another points-finish at Silverstone, where he also claimed the first fastest-lap point of his FIA Formula 3 career.
In the Teams' Championship, Campos Racing has amassed 192 points so far this season, giving the Spanish outfit a 42-point advantage over its closest rival.
At 7.004 kilometres, Spa-Francorchamps is the longest circuit on the FIA Formula 3 calendar. Nestled in the forests of the Ardennes between Spa, Francorchamps and Stavelot, the circuit is renowned for its dramatic elevation changes. After negotiating La Source, the cars tackle the iconic Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex before accelerating along the Kemmel Straight. Later in the lap, the track descends from Bruxelles towards the ultra-fast Blanchimont corner. Its sequence of high-speed corners, combined with the abrasive asphalt, makes tyre management one of the key factors throughout the weekend.
Free Practice will take place on Friday at 09:55, followed by Qualifying at 15:00. The Sprint Race is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00, while Sunday's Feature Race will begin at 08:30. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): "We arrive at Spa-Francorchamps leading both championships, which is a reflection of the excellent work that everyone in the team and our drivers have been doing throughout the season. At the same time, we know there is still a long way to go and that at a circuit like Spa even the smallest detail can make the difference. Ugo has shown remarkable maturity and consistency, Théophile has been one of the fastest drivers all season, and Ernesto continues to make impressive progress every weekend. Our objective is to score as many points as possible and maintain the level of performance that has brought us to this position. We will fight hard to further increase our leads in the championship."
