FEATURE RACE 1: Clerot earns maiden win in Madrid as Campos Racing seal Teams’ title

Pedro Clerot impressively earned his first ever victory in Formula 3 with a dominant performance in the Madrid Feature Race 1.

After starting in P2, the Rodin Motorsport driver took the lead off the line and led every lap to take the win ahead of Taito Kato for ART Grand Prix and MP Motorsport’s Tuukka Taponen.

With Ugo Ugochukwu in fourth, Ernesto Rivera and Théophile Nael in eighth and ninth, Campos Racing sealed the 2026 Teams’ title – while the former went level with Freddie Slater in the Drivers’ Championship.

AS IT HAPPENED

It was a great start for Clerot from P2, taking the lead from Kato on the run to Turn 1. Behind them, Taponen held off Ugochukwu to keep third.

But a Red Flag was soon waved following a multi-car collision that started between Van Amersfoort Racing teammates Bruno Del Pino and Enzo Deligny at the entry of Turn 8.

This caused several other drivers to hit each other with Maciej Gladysz going into the rear of Fionn McLaughlin, while Fernando Barrichello, Woohyun Shin and José Garfias were also caught up in the incident.

TRIDENT’s title hopeful Slater also had slight contact with Hiyu Yamakoshi at Turn 1. The team used the stoppage to change his and his teammate Noah Stromsted’s front wing.

After the pause, Clerot led the field away in a rolling start on Lap 3. Ugochukwu started by putting pressure on Taponen for third place.

The race leader was showing great pace and with the fastest lap, put 1.4s between himself and Kato at the start of Lap 5.

Taponen was struggling and was over two seconds away from P2, with Ugochukwu right on the rear on the MP driver.

While his title rival was fighting up ahead, Slater locked up into Turn 1 while battling with Yamakoshi for P14. This put Kanato Le on alert, but the British driver held on.

Lap 8 saw a battle for P6 begin with Alessandro Giusti having a look at Rivera at the Turn 5 chicane, but the Campos driver held on.

Taponen looked to have steadied the ship with Ugochukwu two seconds behind and coming under pressure from Jin Nakamura.

There was a huge twist in the title fight on Lap 10 as Slater spun and hit the barrier at Turn 19, putting him out of the race and onto the sidelines.

Up ahead, Ugochukwu and Nakamura went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 5. The Campos driver narrowly escaped a hit the wall, while the Japanese driver gave the position back after going off track.

The Safety Car was called upon and once Slater’s car was cleared, racing resumed on Lap 12, with Clerot and Kato moving away from Taponen once again.

The ART driver was within DRS range on the next lap, while Ugochukwu was once again coming under pressure from Nakamura for P4.

Clerot had done well to extend his lead to 1.2s on Lap 17, while Taponen, having set the fastest time of the race, was starting to drop back and into the clutches of Ugochukwu.

In the battle for third in the championship, Rivera and Théophile Nael went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 5 on the final lap, with both drivers going off the track.

But at the front, Clerot was untroubled and crossed the line to earn his maiden victory in Formula 3. Kato took P2 ahead of Taponen, while Ugochukwu, by finishing fourth, ties Slater on points heading into Sunday’s Feature Race.

Nakamura finished fifth ahead of Giusti, Alex Powell and Rivera, with Nael ninth and Wharton taking the final point in P10.

This result also meant Campos Racing sealed the 2026 Teams’ Championship, their second consecutive title in Formula 3.

KEY QUOTE – Pedro Clerot, Rodin Motorsport

“I have no words to describe it. We knew it was all about the start, and we nailed it. Thanks to the team for the beautiful car. We were in control since Lap 1, bit of a messy one, glad everyone is okay, it was a big crash. Really happy, cannot thank the team enough. We needed this after Monza, so very happy.”

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

In the Drivers’ Championship, Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater are tied on 141 points, although the former is on top having won more races. Taito Kato moves up to third on 91 points, ahead of Théophile Nael on 88 points and Ernesto Rivera on 85.

In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing sealed the title on 314 points, with TRIDENT second on 213. ART Grand Prix are up to third on 177, with Van Amersfoort Racing fourth on 162, and tied on points with MP Motorsport.

UP NEXT

The Drivers’ Championship will come down to Sunday’s Feature Race, the final piece of action in the 2026 season. Lights out is set for 09:55 local time.

There is plenty to play for in the fight for the championship podium and also funding for the top five drivers that will graduate to Formula 2 in 2027.