That patience finally paid off when it mattered most, as Pedro Clerot turned his undeniable pace into a victory in FIA Formula 3 2026. The Rodin Motorsport driver secured a sixth-place finish in the Drivers' Standings in his rookie campaign, ending the year level on points with Théophile Nael in fifth and missing out only on countback. It was a rollercoaster year, but a brilliant one.
Five podium finishes defined his debut season, starting with a breakthrough result in Monaco before strong weekends at Spielberg and Spa. Things weren't always smooth, however. A mid-season slump saw him go through a difficult run of six races outside of the points, compounded by a frustrating weekend at Monza where a technical issue and a crash ruined strong potential results. Yet, the response was emphatic.
Clerot capped off the year by claiming the Madrid Feature Race 1 win, a special weekend that finally showcased the speed he felt the team carried all season. "I think up and down," he surmised. "For sure it was not maybe the year that we deserve and maybe wanted, with some things out of our control, some others went off, but overall I'm proud with the team."
Race pace was never a question for the machine underneath him. When Fridays went sideways and left him starting outside the top 20, the racecraft kicked in, carving through the field to salvage points. He highlighted the Red Bull Ring as a high-water mark where they were arguably the quickest outfit on the track. Understanding tyre degradation with the help of the team made all the difference on Sundays.
Looking back, the rookie admits single-lap pace should have put him inside the top 12 in qualifying consistently, but bad luck and external factors intervened. Still, the foundations are laid. Having already been confirmed to return with Rodin in 2027, the young driver carries invaluable lessons forward.
"Patience and resetting," Clerot explained, looking ahead to his sophomore year. "During the race weekend, everything happens so quick. The season happens so fast with the summer races that you just have to reset after every race and come back with a fresh mindset, focus on each weekend and not the big picture."
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