Ugo Ugochukwu delivered an impressive performance in the opening Free Practice session of the 2026 F2 season at the Australian GP, setting the fastest lap of the day with a 1:34.607. The Campos Racing driver finished well clear of his nearest rival, Rodin Motorsport’s Brando Badoer, establishing himself as a contender for pole position ahead of Qualifying.
The session began on a dusty, green track that challenged several drivers, but lap times improved as the weekend progressed. Ugochukwu’s strong pace and consistency indicated that Campos Racing has found a competitive setup, giving him momentum heading into the crucial Qualifying session.
Ugochukwu on F2 Qualifying focus after topping Practice at 2026 Australian GP
After a productive Free Practice session, Ugochukwu explained that the next step is to convert that pace into a strong Qualifying performance. He emphasised that the focus for the weekend is not just on raw speed but also on extracting the maximum from the car in every lap.
“I’m feeling good of course,” Ugochukwu said. “It’s a good start. I was feeling really good out on track, the car was feeling good, so I think we’re in quite a good place going into Qualifying.
“We know the potential is there to be fighting at the front, so we just have to execute our strategy as best as possible. I know what I need to do, I need to try to get a good lap in and then we’ll see if we can get a fast time like in FP.”
Track evolution and strategy to influence Qualifying outcome
The Albert Park circuit is expected to evolve throughout the weekend, with grip levels increasing as more sessions take place. Ugochukwu highlighted the importance of adapting to changing conditions to maintain a competitive edge.
“There was definitely a lot of track evolution as we expected to be honest,” he commented. “Here in Melbourne, with it being a street circuit and with everyone going out on track, there will be a bit more track evolution.
“So I think everyone will be adapting and there will definitely be more and more grip and I’m sure the best times will come right at the very end of Quali. We have to keep adapting to be able to stay on top.”
Clean laps and race awareness crucial as Ugochukwu aims to build on strong F2 Free Practice at Australian GP
Ugochukwu stressed that executing clean laps and managing track space will be key to a strong Qualifying result. He also noted the potential impact of Virtual Safety Cars (VSCs) and Red Flags on the session.
“One of the keys will be getting a clean lap, staying out of trouble and having good space out there,” he said. “That will be really important, and also, I think around here there’s quite a big chance of VSCs and Red Flags so that’ll be an important one to look out for.
“I think it was a big factor in last year’s Quali so we’ll try to be on top of that and try to get a good banker in so we’re safe just in case. In this Practice we were all just practicing Quali runs to get the best feeling as we could. There are still obviously a few little things to improve, but all in all I think we were really strong. So we will try to not change too much and, bring everything into Quali and we’ll see how we get on to be honest.”
Confidence for a strong Qualifying
Ugochukwu enters Qualifying with a clear plan: adapt to the evolving circuit, execute clean laps, and capitalise on his Free Practice pace. With his combination of preparation, experience, and strategy, he aims to challenge at the front and maximise his starting position for both the Sprint and Feature races.
His performance in Free Practice sets a positive tone for Campos Racing, signalling that Ugochukwu is ready to fight for pole and a strong start to the 2026 F2 season.
