FORMULA 3 HEADS TO MONZA FOR THE PENULTIMATE ROUND OF THE SEASON
Formula 3 heads to Monza, Italy, this weekend for the penultimate round of the 2026 season, before the championship finale in Madrid next weekend. Championship leader Freddie Slater arrives in Italy with an eight-point advantage over Ugo Ugochukwu after taking his first F3 victory in Budapest. With only two rounds left, the Italian weekend could have a major impact on the title fight.
FREDDIE SLATER ARRIVES WITH CONFIDENCE
Following his victory in Budapest, Freddie Slater arrives in Monza as the championship leader. The TRIDENT driver currently has 130 points, eight more than Ugochukwu, after producing one of the most consistent seasons on the grid. Slater has reached the podium at every round so far, while Budapest finally gave him his first win in the category.
The victory was particularly important because it came directly against his main title rival. Slater had to defend from Ugochukwu throughout the Feature Race and managed to keep the Campos driver behind until the chequered flag.
Ugochukwu will now need to respond in Monza. The American has had a strong second season in F3, winning the opening Feature Race in Melbourne and the Sprint Race at Silverstone. However, he lost the championship lead for the first time in Budapest and will need a strong weekend to put pressure back on Slater.
The title cannot be decided in Monza. The final round in Madrid will feature two Feature Races, meaning 67 points will still be available after this weekend. Both drivers therefore need to focus on getting as many points as possible rather than taking unnecessary risks.
A CRUCIAL WEEKEND IN THE TITLE FIGHT
Monza represents the penultimate event of the season and has often produced unpredictable races. The circuit is one of the fastest on the calendar, with long straights and heavy braking zones that create plenty of chances for overtaking.
Qualifying will be especially interesting this year because the session will be split into two groups of 15 cars. Drivers will be looking for the perfect slipstream on the long straights, which can make a major difference to lap time.
Starting from pole, however, has not always been an advantage at Monza. Since the FIA F3 championship began racing at the circuit in 2019, no driver has converted pole position into a Feature Race victory. Fourth on the grid is actually the most successful starting position, with three Feature Race wins coming from there.
This means that even a difficult qualifying session does not necessarily end a driver’s weekend. The slipstream effect and strong overtaking opportunities can allow drivers to recover positions during the races.
Slater and Ugochukwu also have recent information from the Madrid test to consider. Ugochukwu finished the two-day test as the overall fastest driver, while Slater was also extremely competitive and topped two sessions. The pair were separated by only a small margin, suggesting that neither driver has a clear advantage heading into the final two rounds.
THE REST OF THE FIELD CAN STILL PLAY A ROLE
While Slater and Ugochukwu have created some distance at the top, the battle behind them remains interesting. Théophile Nael is third in the championship on 85 points, followed by Brando Badoer on 71 and Ernesto Rivera on 70.
Rivera in particular has become one of the drivers to watch in the second half of the season. The Mexican missed the opening round because of injury but has recovered strongly, taking his maiden Feature Race victory at Spa and continuing to score well afterwards.
Italian drivers will also be under the spotlight at Monza. Brando Badoer and Matteo De Palo will both race in front of their home fans, while Nicola Lacorte will also be looking to make an impression at his home event.
LN4 FUSION JOINS THE GRID IN 2027
The 2027 FIA Formula 3 grid will also look different, with LN4 Fusion confirmed as a new team for next season. The project is backed by 2025 Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris and has acquired selected assets from AIX Racing, including its entry for the 2027 F3 season.
The new team will be led by René Rosin as Team Principal. Rosin brings significant experience from the junior categories and will be responsible for building the sporting programme and creating the right environment for drivers and engineers.
Norris is also launching the LN4 Legacy Programme alongside the team. The project aims to support young drivers and give them better opportunities to progress through junior single-seater racing.
LN4 Fusion is therefore set to become one of the most interesting new projects in Formula 3. With a Formula 1 world champion directly involved, expectations will be high from its first season.
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