Motorsports · Drivers · No. 1
Ugo Ugochukwu
The son of a Nigerian supermodel who won Macau, conquered Formula 3 and knocked on the door of Formula 1.
- 2026F3 champion
- 2024Macau GP
- 2023Euro 4 champion
- 2020European karting champion
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Nigerian roots
Ugo Ugochukwu Orlandi was born in New York on 23 April 2007. His mother is Oluchi Onweagba, the Nigerian supermodel who won the M-Net Face of Africa in 1998; his father is Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi. He races under the American flag, but his Igbo name tells the story of his Nigerian heritage.
A karting prodigy
He won ROK Cup races as a young boy and, in 2020, the FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship with the Sauber team. In 2021, aged 13, he was signed by the McLaren Driver Development Programme, a move widely compared with McLaren’s signing of Lewis Hamilton at the same age.
Up the ladder
In cars he finished third in British F4 in 2022, second in Italian F4 and champion of the new Euro 4 series in 2023, and in November 2024 he won the Macau Grand Prix from pole, the first American winner there since 1981.
Formula 3 champion
After a learning year with Prema in 2025, Ugochukwu moved to Campos Racing for 2026 and won the FIA Formula 3 Championship, clinching it in Madrid and finishing 14 points ahead of Freddie Slater, with 2 wins and 8 podiums. In June 2026 he drove a Formula 1 car for the first time, testing an Alpine A524 at Monza.
Career
| Year | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | FIA OK-Junior European Karting Championship | Champion (Sauber Karting Team) |
| 2021 | McLaren Driver Development Programme | Signed, aged 13 |
| 2022 | British F4 (Carlin) | 3rd |
| 2023 | Italian F4 (Prema) | 2nd |
| 2023 | Euro 4 Championship | Champion, 3 wins |
| 2024 | Macau Grand Prix (FR, R-ace GP) | Winner from pole |
| 2025 | FIA Formula 3 (Prema) | 16th |
| 2026 | FIA Formula 3 (Campos Racing) | Champion: 2 wins, 8 podiums |
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Quick answers
Ugo Ugochukwu: quick answers
Is Ugo Ugochukwu Nigerian?
He races for the United States, but his mother is Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba, winner of the 1998 M-Net Face of Africa, and his first names are Igbo. His father is Italian designer Luca Orlandi.
Did Ugo Ugochukwu win Formula 3?
Yes. He won the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship with Campos Racing, 14 points ahead of Freddie Slater, with 2 wins and 8 podiums.
Has Ugo Ugochukwu driven a Formula 1 car?
Yes. He tested an Alpine A524 at Monza in June 2026.