Rising Australian motorsport talent and 2025 GB3 Vice Champion Patrick Heuzenroeder will make his FIA® Formula 3 debut in the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Marking a major milestone in his racing career, Patrick will take to the streets of Albert Park in front of his home crowd. He will replace injured Ernesto Riviera, racing for 2025 Formula 3 Teams’ Champions, Campos Racing. The opportunity represents a significant step forward as he joins the highly competitive FIA® Formula 3 field.
It is fitting that Heuzenroeder, mentored by fellow Australian and former Formula 1 driver, David Brabham – who will also be in the paddock – will debut in Melbourne as the Grand Prix marks the 60th anniversary of Sir Jack Brabham’s 1966 Formula 1 World Championship, the only time a driver has won the title in a car of his own construction.
Heuzenroeder has built a reputation for strong race craft and precision through his performances in the junior categories. He is signed with Campos Racing for the 2026 Euro Cup 3 season and is currently competing in the Spanish Winter Championship ahead of his main Euro Cup 3 campaign, which begins in May.
The opportunity follows a breakthrough performance at the recent three day Formula 3 Official Test in Barcelona. Drafted in only a few days’ notice and stepping into FIA® F3 machinery for the first time, Heuzenroeder not only adapted quickly but demonstrated genuine front-running pace, finishing sixth overall on the final day and consistently running inside the top group. His ability to extract performance almost immediately in one of the most competitive junior categories bodes well for his debut on home soil in Melbourne next weekend.
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity to make my Formula 3debut at my home Grand Prix in Melbourne,” said Heuzenroeder. “To be ableto do this as one of the few Aussies to have been in this paddock is prettyspecial. I’m ready to take on the challenge, learn as much as possible and makethe most of this.”
The Melbourne event will mark the opening round of the FIA Formula 3season, providing Heuzenroeder with the opportunity to showcase his talent on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
The Australian Grand Prix takes place from 6–8 March.
About Patrick Heuzenroeder
Patrick Heuzenroeder from Sydney, Australia, the 2025 GB3 Vice Champion, began his motorsport journey at 13 after a visit to Sydney Motorsport Park sparked his passion for racing. After three years in karting, he progressed to Formula Ford before moving at just 16 to the UK and British F4 to pursue a career in single-seater racing when his talent was recognised after reaching the final of the Ferrari Driver Academy Asia Pacific trials held in Sepang, Malaysia.
In 2024, Heuzenroeder stepped up to the GB3 Championship, impressing as a rookie with podiums and consistent top five finishes. He built on this momentum in 2025, with race wins and multiple podiums, first finishing 4th in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand before returning to GB3, with a brand-new team, Xcel Motorsport, and car, to achieve the Vice Champion result.
For 2026, Heuzenroeder has signed with Campos Racing to compete inEurocup-3, one of Europe’s leading formula 3 championships, and a recognised pathway to FIA Formula 3 and Formula 1.
