Ugo Ugochukwu defends FIA Formula 3 lead in Monaco. Rivera returns to action
The 2026 FIA Formula 3 season resumes this weekend on the streets of Monaco after almost three months without racing. The cancellation of the Bahrain round, originally scheduled earlier in the year, due to the conflict in the Middle East, has resulted in an unusually long gap between races. Nevertheless, Campos Racing has continued preparing extensively for the championship’s arrival in Europe with its three drivers. Ugo Ugochukwu currently leads the standings and, alongside the American, Théophile Naël and Ernesto Rivera will be looking to return the Alzira-based team’s cars to the top positions, with the Mexican making his comeback after missing the opening round through injury.
Before looking ahead to Monaco, it is worth revisiting what happened in early March in Melbourne. At Albert Park, Campos Racing drivers demonstrated their strong pace from the moment they first took to the track. Naël secured pole position, while Ugochukwu claimed victory in Sunday’s Feature Race. However, the Frenchman was denied a podium finish after receiving a late penalty that dropped him out of the points. That disappointment will undoubtedly provide extra motivation heading into Monaco.
As mentioned above, the biggest news within the Campos Racing ranks is Rivera’s return to the number 3 car. The young Red Bull Junior Team driver was forced to miss the opening round while recovering from a back injury sustained during pre-season preparations. As a result, Patrick Heuzenroeder stepped in to replace him, doing so in front of his home crowd in Australia. Rivera was finally able to get back behind the wheel of his FIA Formula 3 car just a couple of weeks ago during the official collective test held at the Red Bull Ring. The Red Bull Junior Team member showed that he has fully recovered, while Ugochukwu topped the timesheets on the opening day of testing.
Ahead of the Monaco weekend, Ugochukwu sits at the top of the Drivers’ Standings with 25 points to his name, while Naël has two points courtesy of his pole position in Melbourne. In the Teams’ Championship, Campos Racing currently occupies second place on 27 points.
The Circuit de Monaco is undoubtedly one of the most technically demanding venues on the calendar. The close proximity of the barriers, where even the smallest mistake can result in contact, the low-grip nature of the surface, and the challenge of managing traffic from thirty cars make qualifying absolutely crucial. A stable car under braking and strong traction are two of the key ingredients for success around the Principality. Naturally, driver talent and experience also play a decisive role on Monaco’s narrow and unforgiving streets.
As tradition dictates in Monaco, free practice will take place on Thursday at 13:25. Qualifying remains scheduled for Friday, although it will once again be split into two groups, with odd and even-numbered cars running separately at 11:05 and 11:29 respectively. The Sprint Race will be held on Saturday at 10:45, while Sunday’s Feature Race will get underway early in the morning at 07:45. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Team Principal of Campos Racing): “After such a long break, everyone is extremely motivated to get back to racing. Melbourne was a very positive start to the season for us, with Ugo taking the championship lead and Théophile showing outstanding speed throughout the weekend. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented us from fully capitalising on our potential there, but we know we have a very competitive package. Monaco is one of the most challenging events of the year and qualifying will be more important than ever. The objective is to maximise every session and put our drivers in the best possible position for both races. We are also very pleased to welcome Ernesto back after his injury. He looked strong during the recent test at the Red Bull Ring and it is great to have our full line-up together again. We are confident that all three drivers can deliver a strong weekend.”
