Fernando Barrichello to Make F3 Debut at Monza with AIX Racing, Eyes 2026 Season
Monza, Italy – August 30, 2025, Fernando “Fefo” Barrichello, the 19-year-old son of Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello, is set to make his FIA Formula 3 debut at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza during the season finale from September 5-7, 2025, with AIX Racing. The Brazilian prodigy has also secured a full-season seat with the team for the 2026 championship, marking a significant step toward his Formula 1 aspirations, as announced by AIX Racing on August 29, 2025.
Born on September 12, 2005, in São Paulo, Fernando has followed in the footsteps of his father, a former Ferrari driver with 11 F1 victories and 68 podiums across 326 races. Starting his career in karting at age 10 in 2015, Fernando transitioned to single-seaters in 2022, competing in the Brazilian Formula 4 with Full Time Sports, where he clinched two victories and finished seventh overall. His progression continued through the Spanish F4 and Euroformula Open, where he secured a third-place championship finish with Motopark in 2024 and currently holds fifth in the 2025 standings with three podiums, including a win at Le Castellet.
Fernando’s debut at Monza, replacing James Hedley in AIX Racing’s #26 car, is a high-stakes opportunity on one of motorsport’s most storied circuits, where his father won three times (2002, 2004, 2009). The weekend schedule includes free practice and qualifying on Friday at 9:35 AM and 3:00 PM, respectively, a Sprint Race on Saturday at 9:15 AM, and the Feature Race on Sunday at 8:15 AM. AIX Racing team manager Kenny Kirwan acknowledged the challenge, stating, “We’re super excited to welcome Fernando to our team from Monza onwards. We’ll be throwing him into the deep end a little, but the experience will be invaluable for his preparations for the 2026 campaign.”
Expressing his enthusiasm, Fernando said, “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity – so much hard work has gone into reaching this moment. I’m excited to join AIX Racing and fight for big things. What an honor to represent Brazil on such a grand stage. Vamos com tudo!” His signing alongside Sri Lankan driver Yevan David forms a young, ambitious lineup for AIX Racing, which also fields Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. in Formula 2 for 2026, reinforcing Brazil’s growing presence in motorsport’s feeder series.
Rubens Barrichello, who recently competed in the International GT Open at Monza with Il Barone Rampante, has been a vocal supporter of his son’s career, guiding him through the competitive junior formulas. Fernando’s older brother, Eduardo, pursued racing in Formula Regional and now competes in Brazil’s Stock Car Pro Series, but Fernando’s leap to F3 positions him closer to the F1 ladder, following the path of talents like Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.
The Monza debut comes at a time when Brazil’s motorsport scene is thriving, with Gabriel Bortoleto set to race for Audi in F1 and Rafael Câmara, the 2025 F3 champion, moving to F2 in 2026. Fernando’s entry into F3 with AIX Racing underscores the country’s resurgent talent pool, with the young driver aiming to carve his own legacy under the weight of his father’s storied name.
Sources: La Stampa, ge.globo.com, f1-news.eu, livegp.it, Formula Scout, Super Rádio Tupi