Ugochukwu penalised after Practice incident
Ugo Ugochukwu has been handed a five-place grid penalty for both of this weekend’s races in Monza after being found wholly at fault for a collision during Practice.
The Campos Racing driver was investigated over an incident involving Car 6, driven by TRIDENT’s Matteo De Palo. Following the session, the Stewards heard evidence from both drivers and representatives of their teams before reviewing the available video footage.
Their conclusion was clear: Car 2 had crowded Car 6 off the circuit, causing the collision. The Stewards therefore determined that Ugochukwu had breached Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 (d) of the FIA International Sporting Code.
Penalty applies to both Monza races
As a result, the Stewards imposed a five-place grid penalty on the Campos driver. The sanction will be applied in both the Sprint Race and the Feature Race, meaning Ugochukwu faces a compromised starting position across the entire Monza weekend.
The penalty adds an immediate challenge to a weekend already carrying significant importance for the championship picture. Ahead of the event, Ugochukwu was identified as Freddie Slater’s closest title rival in the Formula 3 Monza preview, with the gap between the two drivers stated as eight points.
Stewards’ ruling leaves no ambiguity
The wording of the decision leaves little room for interpretation. After considering the drivers’ accounts, team representations and video evidence, the Stewards assigned complete responsibility for the collision to Car 2 rather than treating it as a shared incident.
That distinction is central to the outcome: the penalty is not limited to one race, but carries through both the Sprint and Feature events. Ugochukwu will now need to recover five places from his qualifying position in each race if he is to limit the sporting impact of the ruling.
For Campos Racing, the focus will turn to managing the consequences across two separate starts. For Ugochukwu, the task is equally direct: respond on track after a Practice incident that has placed an avoidable burden on his Monza weekend.
