For every driver on the grid, the road to Formula 1 looks a little different, but the FIA Formula 3 Championship has proved to be a valuable stepping stone for 10 of them. Drivers need competitive track sessions to help develop their racecraft, one-lap pace, and tyre management \u2013 but the third rung of the ladder helps so much more than that.<\/p>\n
Exposing young racers to the travel, media duties, sponsorship obligations and increased global attention \u2013 under the watchful eyes of those in the F1 paddock \u2013 acts as a trial by fire. Those who master all while performing well on track are likely to ascend to the top of motorsport.<\/p>\n
F3 has helped develop drivers since the championship was launched in 2019, and as Arvid Lindblad<\/a> joins the grid as the sole rookie for 2026 with Racing Bulls<\/a>, the Briton will add his name to a small but growing group who impressed in the junior categories to earn their place in F1. Let\u2019s look at all the drivers who made a similar step up \u2013 and how life in F3 set them up for their F1 journey.<\/p>\n Arvid Lindblad<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a rapid rise for Lindblad, with the 18-year-old due to become the fourth-youngest driver in F1 history when he debuts for Racing Bulls this season.<\/p>\n Just two years ago, the Briton was driving for PREMA Racing, aged 16, in the 2024 F3 season \u2013 and what a rookie season it was. He took four wins, including becoming the youngest F3 race winner after his Sprint Race victory in his maiden outing in Bahrain, to come fourth overall as the highest-finishing rookie that year.<\/p>\n Lindblad is the latest success story from the ever-fruitful Red Bull<\/a> Academy, which has produced some of the premiere talent on the grid since its inception 25 years ago. His 6th place finish in the 2025 F2 season was enough for the Red Bull higher-ups to give him a shot at F1, partnering fellow F3 grad Liam Lawson<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n Speaking to Lawrence Barretto<\/a>, Lindblad credited the intense nature of the junior categories in preparing him for this move. He said: “I’ve just been in each category one year, so every year I’m used to being thrown in the deep end. For sure on that side it will help me to adapt to F1 because I’m used to being in this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Gabriel Bortoleto<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to overlook the impact of Gabriel Bortoleto<\/a>\u2019s junior career. Arriving in F3 as a rookie in 2023, the young Brazilian made an immediate impression, winning his first Feature Race and establishing himself as a title contender from the off.<\/p>\n A clinic of consistency followed, and amassing two wins and six podiums, the Trident driver achieved something few else have done \u2013 securing the championship in his maiden season.<\/p>\n A rookie title is a strong statement, and Bortoleto backed it up by repeating the feat again in F2 \u2013 a sequence of titles that naturally attracted plenty of attention from the Formula 1 paddock. Kick Sauber quickly secured the sought-after 21-year-old to partner Nico Hulkenberg<\/a> for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n Bortoleto\u2019s ability to adapt to the challenges of different cars with ease has been one of his most impressive qualities, but having a two-time World Champion in his corner certainly gave him an edge.<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso<\/a>\u2019s management team snapped him up ahead of his F3 season, helping him gain a seat while giving the type of advice that would be invaluable to a young talent. After a solid debut season with Sauber, Bortoleto will be looking to build further momentum with Audi<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar<\/p>\n In 2022, the Red Bull Junior Team had a new member \u2013 French-Algerian Isack Hadjar<\/a>. Joining Hitech Grand Prix for the F3 season, Hadjar pleased the Red Bull higher-ups with a sterling rookie campaign, achieving a Sprint Race win on debut, before taking a further two wins and five podiums to finish an impressive fourth in the standings.<\/p>\n Although a crash in Monza Qualifying curtailed his title charge that year, it\u2019s such moments that proved valuable preparation for the realities of racing at the highest level. Hadjar responded to this disappointment by regrouping the following season, bouncing back from a difficult maiden Formula 2 campaign to finish runner-up to Bortoleto and secure a drive with Racing Bulls for 2025.<\/p>\n Even an early setback on his F1 debut weekend in Australia \u2013 where he crashed on the formation lap \u2013 did little to derail his momentum, as he enjoyed an eye-catching year with a podium at Zandvoort.<\/p>\n Reflecting on his time in F3, Hadjar highlighted the importance of consistency in his development.<\/p>\n \u201cConsistency was something I targeted right away arriving in Formula 3,\u201d he said. \u201cMy first years in single seaters were difficult and when I didn\u2019t have the pace, I wasn\u2019t able to maximise. My approach really changed, and I learned quite a lot and am very happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n Those lessons will be crucial for Red Bull\u2019s newest driver to draw upon this year as he becomes team mates with Max Verstappen<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jack Doohan<\/p>\n Before his time in the Alpine<\/a> Academy, Jack Doohan was part of the Red Bull Junior Team where he experienced two seasons in F3 with very different outcomes.<\/p>\n His 2020 campaign proved a challenging introduction, ending without a points finish as he placed 26th in the standings. But a switch from HWA RACELAB to Trident for 2021 marked a turning point for the Australian. Doohan emerged as a frontrunner, taking four victories and seven podiums on his way to finishing as runner-up in the championship.<\/p>\n Those vastly contrasting seasons become an important part of Doohan\u2019s development as a driver. Reflecting on his breakthrough win in the series, he spoke candidly about the challenges he\u2019d faced.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter all the difficulties of last year, and how much it mentally drained me – figuring out if I was good enough for this and if I was doing the right thing – to have everything fall into place and to show my potential, all the emotions came out,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a very, very tough year, but I feel I can learn more from that than a successful year, and hopefully this can take me on to bigger and better things and make me a stronger person and driver.\u201d<\/p>\n Doohan went on to compete in two full F2 seasons in 2022 and 2023, before graduating to F1 with Alpine in the 2024 season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While his time in a race seat proved brief, the experience added another chapter to a career shaped by resilience and adaptability \u2013 traits certainly forged during his turnaround in F3.<\/p>\n Franco Colapinto<\/p>\n It was during his stint in F3 that Franco Colapinto<\/a> first exhibited the type of raw speed that proved impossible for F1 teams to ignore. His debut campaign in 2022 with Van Amersfoort Racing was a learning year for the Argentinian, with flashes of brilliance mixed with some bouts of inconsistency, ultimately resulting in a ninth-place finish in the standings.<\/p>\n Even so, two victories and five podiums provided a strong foundation to build from during the next season. And he did exactly that in 2023, finding far more points finishes between his two wins to finish 4th with MP Motorsport.<\/p>\n Despite only spending half a season in F2, in 2024 Colapinto got his shot in F1 when chosen to replace fellow F3 graduate Logan Sargeant at Williams<\/a> from the Italian Grand Prix onwards. He remained impressively close to team mate Alex Albon<\/a> for the remainder of the season, making a strong first impression.<\/p>\n While Williams opted to complete their 2025 line-up with Carlos Sainz<\/a>, Colapinto\u2019s performances ensured he remained firmly on the F1 radar. A reserve role with Alpine swiftly followed, before he was promoted to a full-time race seat six rounds into the season.<\/p>\n Although the Alpine package allowed him limited opportunities to fully demonstrate his potential, the flashes of pace he\u2019s shown throughout his career have certainly made Colapinto a valuable addition to the grid.<\/p>\n Ollie Bearman<\/p>\n Ollie Bearman<\/a> will be the fifth-youngest F1 driver in history after Lindblad makes his debut \u2013 a feat that requires a stellar junior career to achieve. And that\u2019s exactly what Bearman had, with his 2022 F3 season featuring a win and eight podiums for PREMA. That third-place finish in the standings at just 17 years old got him a quick promotion to F2 with the same team.<\/p>\n The Briton had to become comfortable with quick adaptation, as he was thrust into a Formula 1 seat at the last minute for the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix \u2013 replacing Sainz in the Ferrari<\/a> who had appendicitis.<\/p>\n Despite missing two practice sessions, Bearman had the whole paddock on notice when he qualified 11th and finished P7 to become the then-youngest point scorer on debut.<\/p>\n F3 certainly helped prepare Bearman for the life of a professional driver, and after the 2022 season he said: \u201cThe team are super professional, so you always need to be switched on and working at that level. For sure, it made me grow as a person. I feel like I make better decisions now and balance the risk and reward better.\u201d<\/p>\n Having made the step up to F1 permanently in 2025, the 20-year-old had a strong rookie season with Haas<\/a>, with a breakthrough fourth-place finish in Mexico the highlight.<\/p>\n Liam Lawson<\/p>\n Liam Lawson learned a thing or two about overcoming setbacks during his time in Formula 3. A throttle failure meant his 2019 F3 campaign got off to the worst possible start, but he recovered well to grab two podiums and 11th place, the highest of the MP Motorsport drivers that season.<\/p>\n The New Zealander used that experience the following season to finish on the top step three times with Hitech Grand Prix, earning an impressive fifth place in the championship.<\/p>\n Lawson spent the next few years racing non-stop, including runner-up spots in DTM and Super Formula, a third-place finish in F2, and some short F1 stints to replace an injured Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls.<\/p>\n Despite being dropped from the Red Bull team in 2025 after only two races, the 23-year-old’s perseverance showed again as he found form back with Racing Bulls \u2013 a skill certainly strengthened during his time in F3.<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri<\/a> has his own piece of history as the only driver to win Formula Renault, Formula 3, and Formula 2 championships in successive seasons. His ability to adapt to any machinery is outstanding, but being able to immediately adapt to difficult racing situations is another strength that appealed to F1 teams.<\/p>\n His victorious 2020 F3 season was during the height of COVID racing, but that didn\u2019t phase the Australian, winning it all thanks to two wins and six podiums, while suffering only three non-points scoring races with PREMA.<\/p>\n Speaking to Lawrence Barretto<\/a>, Piastri spoke of the intensity of the F3 step-up. \u201cI had to win pretty quickly after joining the Renault programme,\u201d he said of the urgent nature of the sport. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t my best season as a driver. It was a tense year.\u201d<\/p>\n His PREMA team mate Sargeant was also a close friend, but Piastri didn\u2019t let the title fight get in the way of their relationship. Speaking after claiming the title, he explained: \u201cWe’ve known each other for four or five years. We’ve been good friends and we didn’t come to blows this year, it really wasn’t difficult to manage \u2013 it was great working with Logan.\u201d<\/p>\n The 24-year-old has arguably become the biggest success story from F3 so far, finishing just 13 points behind title-winning McLaren<\/a> team mate Lando Norris<\/a> last season in just his third year in F1.<\/p>\n There is no ceiling for the calm and collected Aussie, and winning what he described as \u201cone of the most competitive championships in the world\u201d in his rookie season has certainly set him up for his Formula 1 successes so far…<\/p>\n Logan Sargeant<\/p>\n Floridian Logan Sargeant partook in a rollercoaster three-year stint in F3 before heading up the ranks, joining Albon at Williams in 2023.<\/p>\n Though his maiden season with Carlin Buzz Racing in 2019 was nothing necessarily to write home about, Sargeant’s move to PREMA for 2020 proved to be much more fruitful. Finishing the season with a host of pole positions and six podiums, including his first-ever Feature Race win at Silverstone \u2013 the 25-year-old finished just four points adrift of the title in P3.<\/p>\n Sargeant remained in F3 for the 2021 season, though a late switch to Charouz Racing System brought another period of adjustment for the young American. While the move coincided with a more challenging campaign this time round \u2013 yielding a single victory in Russia \u2013 it was his impact on the team that caught the eye of team managers.<\/p>\n Charouz went on to record their highest-ever points tally that season, scoring 127 points in total, with Sargeant contributing an impressive 101 of those.<\/p>\n That season also proved formative for Sargeant, offering insight into how progress is built across a campaign. Having raced with a front-running team in Prema before switching to a developing Charouz outfit, he was forced to adapt. Reflecting on the year, Sargeant said he felt he had \u201cdone what I came in to do,\u201d pointing to how the team had \u201cbrought the car a long way from the start of the season\u201d.<\/p>\n Those lessons would soon pay off, as Sargeant was signed to the Williams Driver Academy later in 2021, marking a significant step towards F1. A promotion to Formula 2 with Carlin followed in 2022, where he finished fourth in the championship, before completing the journey to the F1 grid with Williams \u2013 where he showed the adaptability and resilience shaped during his years in Formula 3.<\/p>\n Yuki Tsunoda<\/p>\n The first F3 success story came courtesy of Yuki Tsunoda, who competed in the 2019 season with Jenzer Motorsport. He arrived in Europe from Japan ahead of his season debut with little knowledge of the circuits compared to his rivals, but despite the steep learning curve the Honda and Red Bull Junior proved himself to be a quick learner.<\/p>\n After scoring just two points finishes across the opening seven races, his season certainly gathered momentum in the second half.<\/p>\n Tsunoda went on to score in each of the following seven races, including a podium in Spa, along with a Sprint Race podium and impressive Feature Race victory in Italy.<\/p>\n