Escotto and Xie withdrawn from FIA Formula 3 Madrid finale
AIX Racing and DAMS confirm driver withdrawals
Ricardo Escotto and Gerrard Xie will not participate in Round 9 of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season, with both AIX Racing and DAMS Lucas Oil confirming their withdrawals ahead of this weekend’s event in Madrid.
Escotto’s absence follows a road traffic accident. On medical advice, the AIX Racing driver will not return to the car for the final round of the championship. The team said his health and wellbeing remain the priority as he focuses on his recovery.
Kenny Kirwan, AIX Racing’s Formula 3 Team Manager, expressed the team’s support for Escotto and his family while acknowledging the impact of the decision on the season finale.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Ricardo following his recent traffic collision. On behalf of everyone at AIX Racing, I would like to wish him a smooth and speedy recovery. His health and wellbeing are, above all else, the priority at this time.”
Kirwan confirmed that Escotto would miss the upcoming Madring Formula 1 support event, describing it as the final round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship. He also thanked the driver for his commitment and contribution to AIX Racing, while wishing him well for his recovery and the next stage of his career.
“Unfortunately, as a result of this incident, Ricardo will not be able to participate in the upcoming Madring Formula 1 support event, which is the final round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship,” Kirwan said. “Our thoughts are firmly with him and his family as he focuses on his recovery.”
Two-car entries for the Madrid finale
Despite the withdrawals, both teams will remain on the Madrid grid. AIX Racing and DAMS Lucas Oil will each enter two cars this weekend, reducing their presence from the original three-car line-up but preserving two entries per team for the decisive FIA Formula 3 round.
The withdrawals add another layer to a Madrid weekend already carrying significant championship interest. The 2026 FIA Formula 3 title fight reaches its conclusion at the Madring, with the support-field contest now set to take place without Escotto or Xie.
Simone Scanu
Es ingeniero de software y un gran apasionado de la Fórmula 1 y los deportes de motor. Es cofundador de Formula Live Pulse, una empresa dedicada a hacer que la telemetría en directo y la información sobre las carreras sean accesibles, visuales y fáciles de seguir.