– Formula 3 will have to do without two cars at the season finale during the Formula 1 weekend in Madrid. The two teams DAMS and AIX have each completely withdrawn one car before the start of the event, as their two drivers Gerrard Xie and Ricardo Escotto are not fit to compete.
Read more Lando Norris: Would not say that rules suit my driving style
Xie is believed to have been injured in his serious accident last weekend in Monza, where he crashed into Hitech driver Woohyun Shin at the end of the start-finish straight and was launched into the air.
“Unfortunately, Gerrard will not be able to start for us in Madrid this weekend due to injury. We had hoped the issue would be resolved in time for the event, but unfortunately he will not be able to participate,” his team announced.
“Gerrard traveled to Madrid ready to race and will – although naturally disappointed – stay at the track all weekend to support the team and continue learning alongside us. We wish Gerrard a speedy recovery and thank him for his ongoing support.”
Escotto involved in traffic accident
Escotto will also miss the weekend due to injury. The Mexican, who stepped in at AIX for the also injured Brad Benavides, was involved in a traffic accident between the races in Monza and Madrid and will not be driving again this season on medical advice.
“Above all, our thoughts are with Ricardo following his recent traffic accident,” says team manager Kenny Kirwan. “On behalf of everyone at AIX, I want to wish him a smooth and speedy recovery. His health and well-being are our top priorities right now.”
“Unfortunately, Ricardo will not be able to participate in the upcoming Formula 1 support program at the Madrid circuit, which also marks the Formula 3 championship season finale,” he added.
“Our thoughts are firmly with him and his family as he focuses on his recovery. We want to thank Ricardo for his commitment and contribution to AIX. We sincerely wish him all the best for his recovery and the next chapter of his career.”
Read more NLS 2026 in Livestream: How to watch the double-header at Nürburgring live!
Since DAMS and AIX have not nominated replacement drivers, only 28 of the 30 cars will start at the season finale in Madrid.
Military service calls Christian Ho
Another name will also be missing: Rodin driver Christian Ho has immediately withdrawn from active motorsport because he must fulfill the mandatory military service in his home country Singapore.
“This is not the announcement I wanted to make, but I have decided not to start at the last race of the season in Madrid as I prepare for my conscription into mandatory military service in Singapore,” Ho said in a statement on Instagram. “This also means that I probably won’t be racing for the next few years.”
National Service is the legally required, compulsory military or civil service in Singapore and usually lasts two years. It is one of the strictest and most consistently enforced military services in the world and is considered a fundamental pillar of the city-state’s national security and social cohesion.
“This season has been rather disappointing – partly due to overlaps with my A-Level exams from May to the end of June, but also with the knowledge in the back of my mind that I probably won’t be able to race for a while because of military service,” Ho continued. “Nevertheless, I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey.”
He does not yet know how his career will continue after his service, “but it will probably be university,” he writes. “I will definitely do some things related to motorsport.”
- Formula 1Insider reveals: Why the billion-dollar Red Bull-Porsche deal failed
- Formula 1Jacques Villeneuve on father Gilles: “I can do it, you can’t”
- DTMAll clear with DTM engines – wheel bearings still under scrutiny by regulators
- Formula 1Blind corners and banking: Will Madrid be “worse” than Jeddah?
Ho’s car will, however, start in Madrid – in the hands of Italian Niccolo Maccagnani.
Read more Formula 1 Live Ticker: The first training sessions in Madrid live
