David Fired Up for Monza as Madrid Finale Looms
Sri Lankan racing driver Yevan David says he is ready to attack the final two rounds of his rookie FIA Formula 3 season with renewed confidence as the championship resumes at Monza this weekend.
Competing with AIX Racing, David returns from the summer break for the penultimate round of the 2026 campaign before the season concludes one week later at Madrid’s new MADRING circuit. After using the break to reset both physically and mentally, the 19-year-old believes he is better prepared to show his full potential over the closing phase of the season.
“Honestly, I’m very excited heading into Monza and MADRING for the last two rounds of the FIA Formula 3 season,” said David.
“It has been so enjoyable in so many ways because it is so cool to be racing on an F1 weekend, and I have wanted to race in this championship for a long time.”
“It has been a really nice season so far. Obviously I wanted more, and I am definitely going to keep working for more, but after this summer break I have worked so hard and I am so ready for these last two rounds. I am just waiting to get on track.”
David heads to Monza with strong memories of the Italian circuit, where he has previously enjoyed success in junior single-seater racing. The high-speed nature of the venue also suits his driving style, with long straights, heavy braking zones and close racing making racecraft and execution especially important.
“Monza definitely suits the way I drive,” he said.
“It has high-speed corners, which I love, and a lot of racecraft is needed because of the long straights. You cannot really get away at Monza because of the DRS, so it creates close racing.
“I have good memories there, including my first win in cars, and I won there last year as well in Euroformula Open. I am very confident going back to Monza. I really like the place, I really like the atmosphere, and it is going to be incredible experiencing it on an F1 weekend.”
Qualifying will again be a key focus for David. Although overtaking is more possible at Monza than at some other circuits, the slipstream effect, traffic and small gaps through the field mean Friday execution can still define the weekend.
“Monza qualifying is still very important,” said David.
“If you are far back, there can be so much chaos, and while there are opportunities to overtake and move forward, it is also easy for the cars behind to do the same.
“Having a good slipstream and a clear lap will be the main thing because there can be a lot of traffic. We will keep that in mind and do the best we can, but overall we have to be on it in practice, qualifying and both races.”
Following a Budapest weekend that included a strong Sprint Race drive from 16th to 11th but also a costly Feature Race lesson, David says his approach for Monza is clear: manage risk, focus on the fundamentals and trust his ability to drive at the limit.
“The main things to carry into Monza are to be a bit more on the risk-management side with the racecraft and not take too many unnecessary risks,” he said.
“But from a mindset side, it is about hitting my references, driving to the limit of the grip and keeping it simple. Sometimes in racing we can go into a lot of detail, but sometimes you just have to say: drive the car, drive to the limit and focus on the basics.
“That will be very important at a track like Monza, where it is low downforce, braking is important and you need good exits.”
The break between Budapest and Monza also gave David time to step away from the pressure of competition and assess how he can improve, not only as a driver but also as a person.
“The reset has given me a real insight into what my mind goes through under pressure,” he said.
“Being away from the track and focusing on how I can improve as a person allowed me to understand my doubts, fears and thoughts, and tackle them. That can make me a stronger person and therefore a stronger driver overall.
“The break has not only reset my batteries, it has reset my mindset. I am ready to drive knowing that I can drive to the limit. We will only know fully once I hit the track, but I am confident the reset has given me a big boost.”
David also arrives at Monza after taking part in official FIA Formula 3 testing at MADRING, which will host the season finale. The new Madrid venue, which combines street-circuit characteristics with high-speed sections and a long banked corner, made a strong impression.
“Madrid was an incredible experience,” said David.
“The track has such a different feeling. It is a street circuit, but it also has very high-speed corners with not a lot of run-off, so it is a very unusual feeling. It also has one of the longest banked corners in the world.
“Knowing we were among the first drivers to officially drive there was incredible. There was no reference and no data, so going straight into it was such a cool feeling.
“I learned a lot from it. I was able to understand more about how to drive the car well, and some of the things I had been thinking about over the break in terms of how to drive fast, I executed well. It taught me a lot about the direction I need to go in.”
With Monza and Madrid remaining, David is determined to finish his rookie FIA Formula 3 campaign on the strongest possible note.
“For me, finishing the rookie season properly means going for the win,” he said.
“I genuinely believe we can win in this championship. That is going to be my goal. We are competing to win and that is what I want.
“If that expectation is not reached, I will be completely fine with that and I will not have my head down. I will work for it for next season, and it will only make me stronger.
“I am very excited for the last two races because no matter what happens, I am either going to succeed or I am going to get stronger. That is the way I approach it.”
The penultimate round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship takes place at Monza from 4–6 September, before the season concludes at MADRING from 11–13 September.
Yevan David’s racing is supported by Lion Beer0.0%, Maliban, Dimo Group, Nations Trust Bank, Fidem Financial and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC).
FIA Formula 3 action at Monza starts with practice (08:35-09:20) and qualifying (14:00-14:30) on Friday, the Sprint Race 09:30-10:15) on Saturday then the Feature Race on Sunday (08:15-09:05). All times local.
