PREMA Racing have confirmed their first driver for the 2025 Formula 3 season in the form of Ugo Ugochukwu.
The American is currently racing with the team in FRECA and will make the step up to Formula 3 next year as he pilots the No. 1 car.
Ugochukwu, who is part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, has enjoyed a fairly successful junior career for the most part, finishing third in the F4 British Championship in 2022.
The 17-year-old went even better in 2023 as he finished third in Formula 4 UAE, second in Italian F4 and won the Euro 4 Championship, beating James Wharton to the title by 24 points.
For 2024, Ugochukwu has competed in FRECA, the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and the GB3 Championship, but the young talent has not been able to replicate the success he had the year prior.
Ugo Ugochukwu’s performances in FRECA have led to fan criticism over his Formula 3 signing
Across all three series, the 17-year-old has failed to register a victory. In FRECA, Ugochukwu is 14th in the standings with 45 points with a round to go, while his teammates Rafael Camara and his Euro 4 rival Wharton are first and second with 10 wins between them.
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But despite Camara and Wharton’s performances, Ugochukwu is the one that has secured an F3 seat first, which has left fans on Instagram frustrated with the news in the comments section of the announcement.
One user was not impressed at all as they wrote: “Dude finished P14 while his teammates P1 and P2 in the championship. And still got the seat lmao (followed by cry-laughing emojis) this sport sucks. It ain’t about talent but money.”
One pointed out his lack of success in 2024: “Bruh… Not even top 10 at FRECA,” while another echoed these feelings: “Bro wasn’t doing the best in Freca.”
One user believes it is too soon for Ugochukwu to make the step up: “I think it’s too early tbh, another season in freca would’ve been perfect for him.”
Another echoed the same thoughts as they too questioned his 2024 results: “Way too early, he wasn’t even that good in FRECA.”
While another user wrote: “There’s big pressure on him…can he deliver.”
Is it too soon for Ugo Ugochukwu to be joining Formula 3?
With Ugochukwu currently winless in 2024 and with what his FRECA teammates Camara and Wharton have done this season, it is perhaps understandable for people to question the signing of the American.
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Joining PREMA, one of the most established and successful teams in F3, will bring enough pressure as it is, but for Ugochukwu, it will possibly be even higher.
First of all, his performance against his teammates have been comprehensively lacking this year. While he has secured two podiums in FRECA this year, he has been outshone by the main people he should be looking to beat.
Secondly, he will be replacing Arvid Lindblad next season, who was highest placed rookie in 2024 with fourth place, winning more races than any other driver with four.
With Lindblad also being 17 when he entered F3, many will be looking eagerly to see if Ugochukwu can handle the pressure placed upon him by several fans already.