Progression a key target for 2026: DAMS Lucas Oil Season Preview

It was a learning year for DAMS Lucas Oil in 2025, as the team competed in their first FIA Formula 3 campaign.

It was a learning experience that will go a long way in their follow-up efforts this time around, and there is a lot to be hopeful about going into the new season.

After year one in F3, we take a look at how DAMS can press on and what the team will be aiming to achieve this year.

Using the lessons of 2025

There was a lot to learn for DAMS in 2025 as the team got up to speed with racing in FIA Formula 3 for the first time. However, now that they have established a level of experience and knowledge of the car, they will now be looking to achieve a step forward in terms of competitiveness.

Starting off with some consistency in the early phase of 2026 will go a long way in helping those aspirations and confirming the learnings from last season.

The foundational year in 2025 will go a long way in aiding DAMS’ programme for this year, no longer going into each race weekend without existing data to rely upon and instead, having an established platform from which to build across the weekend.

More experience for every mechanic and engineer as well as the wider team in terms of their preferred way to operate will count for a lot, as will the arrival of new drivers in the garage.

That, along with some organisational changes based on the team’s findings from 2025 will hopefully propel the French outfit up the order this time around, as they chase more points finishes in 2026.

Two out of three confirmed

DAMS’ 2026 line-up isn’t final yet, but the team has confirmed that Nicola Lacorte and Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi will be racing for the team this season.

First up, Lacorte returns for another campaign in F3, having established himself in the Championship last year with DAMS.

The Italian driver’s experience, both in terms of the format and with the DAMS team as a whole, will help him press on this year and build on his rookie effort.

Partnering him is rookie driver Bhirombhakdi, who steps up to FIA F3 following a season in Formula Regional European Championship.

The Thai driver tested with DAMS last season in the post-season tests around Jerez, Barcelona and Imola, and those days will be crucial in getting him acquainted with the machinery at his disposal.

He will have a good benchmark alongside him in Lacorte, a returning driver who has worked a full season with DAMS already. Those two key points will help him adapt quickly and hopefully for him and the team, bring results.