Formula 3 2026: Which Drivers Are In Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy?
The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy has just one driver competing in the 2026 Formula 3 season.
Formula 3 is the ultimate proving ground for young drivers hoping to break into Formula 2, and the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy will once again have a presence in the highly respected series. Tuukka Taponen is the only driver associated with Ferrari competing in F3 in 2026, meaning the Tifosi won’t have a difficult time keeping tabs on our third division prospects this season.
Tuukka Taponen isn’t a new name in the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy ecosystem, with the Finnish driver joining the academy in 2023. The F3 driver had to earn his position in the academy the hard way, winning the FDA World Scouting Final before starting his journey with the Scuderia.
Who is Tuukka Taponen?
Like many young drivers trying to enter Formula 1, Tuukka Taponen started his career in karting. From 2017 to 2022, the Finnish driver won six karting championships, winning the Finnish Championship multiple times. However, karting can only get you so far, so in 2021 Taponen embarked on his single-seater racing journey. His first entry into formula racing came via the Formula Academy Finland series, which saw him represent Koiranen Kemppi Motorsport. Taponen finished his second season in the series sixth overall, which led to the Finnish driver moving into the Formula 4 scene in 2023.
Tuukka Taponen really started to catch eyes in Formula 4, finishing second overall in the Formula 4 UAE Championship and remaining competitive in the even tougher Italian F4 Championship and Euro 4 Championship while representing Prema Racing.
2024 was Tuukka Taponen’s debut season in F3, however, he only competed in two races. Last year was the 19-year-old’s first full season racing for ART Grand Prix in Formula 3, and he is already showing promise despite his limited experience in the series. Taponen got three podiums in 2025, and scored 67 points throughout the season. This points tally was enough to get him ninth place overall in the drivers standings, so Ferrari will be hoping for big things in 2026.
Tuukka Taponen’s 2026 Formula 3 Schedule
While Tuukka Taponen’s 2026 F3 schedule will mimic most of the Formula 1 schedule, Formula 3 doesn’t have as many locations throughout the season. Taponen will compete in ten rounds in 2026, with all but two of the races taking place at European tracks. See the full Formula 3 2026 schedule below:
- Round 1: March 6-8, Melbourne
- Round 2: April 10-12, Sakhir
- Round 3: June 4-7, Monaco
- Round 4: June 12-14, Barcelona
- Round 5: June 26-28, Spielberg
- Round 6: July 3-5, Silverstone
- Round 7: July 17-19, Spa-Francorchamps
- Round 8: July 24-26, Budapest
- Round 9: September 4-6, Monza
- Round 10: September 11-13, Madrid
Will Tuukka Taponen win the F3 Championship in 2026? Let me know in the comments below!
