David Makes History with FIA Formula 3 Debut at Albert Park
Sri Lankan driver Yevan David became the first driver from Sri Lanka to compete in the FIA Formula 3 Championship after completing his debut race weekend at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, where the 2026 season opened alongside the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
Driving for AIX Racing, David used the weekend to build experience in one of the most competitive junior championships in global motorsport, laying important foundations for the season ahead.
The FIA Formula 3 schedule began with a shakedown session on Thursday, followed by practice and qualifying on Friday before the Sprint Race on Saturday and Feature Race on Sunday — all of which David completed cleanly.
“The first day in Melbourne was incredible,” said David. “Walking through the F1 paddock, meeting fans and doing the track walk at Albert Park was a special moment. Being part of a Formula 1 weekend is something I’ve worked towards for many years.”
Qualifying on the demanding street circuit saw David set a time of 1min 35.731secs, placing him 26th in the 30-car field, just 1.5 seconds from pole position in what was David’s street course debut.
“It was amazing to drive the F3 car at Albert Park,” David explained. “Friday was all about learning. The level of competition in FIA Formula 3 is extremely high, and as a rookie there’s a lot to understand about the car, tyres and execution over a race weekend.”
In Saturday’s Sprint Race, David made a strong start and settled into a strategy focused on tyre management before pushing later in the race. However, the race was red-flagged and finished early following an incident between two drivers, leaving David classified 22nd.
“My first FIA F3 race was a great experience,” he said. “I had a strong start and gained positions while managing the tyres well. Unfortunately the race was shortened by the red flag, so we didn’t get the chance to fully execute the strategy.”
Sunday’s Feature Race saw David deliver another disciplined drive, finishing 20th after gaining positions across the race distance.
“The feature race was definitely challenging and there are areas where I could improve,” David reflected. “But we moved forward during the race and gained positions, which is important. There is still pace to unlock — both from my understanding of the tyres and from the car set-up — which is exactly what you expect at the start of a rookie season.”
With his first FIA Formula 3 weekend completed, David will now analyse the data and continue preparations for the next round.
“My debut weekend was challenging but very valuable,” he said. “We learned a lot, and both races showed we can move forward through the field. I’m confident we’ll keep improving as the season progresses.”
Yevan David’s racing is supported by Lion Beer 0%, Maliban, Dimo Group, Chingiz, Nations Trust Bank and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC).
