Pedro Clerot: The Brazilian Gem Who Arrived in Formula 3 Hungry for Greatness
Brazil has an unparalleled tradition in world motorsport. Senna, Fittipaldi, Piquet, Massa, Barrichello. The list of Brazilian drivers who have left an indelible mark on the sport is unique in its history. And Brazilian motorsport never stops producing new talent. The latest name to join that tradition with force and determination is Pedro Clerot, an 18 year old who arrived in Formula 3 in 2026 with Rodin Motorsport and has already made a first impression that points toward a brilliant future.
Birth and Early Steps: A Champion from the Very Beginning
Pedro Clerot was born in Brazil, where he took his first steps in motorsport from a very young age. Unlike many drivers who begin their karting careers in Europe, Clerot built his foundations in his home country, collecting multiple karting titles in Brazil before embarking on the European adventure. It was precisely that solid base, built on Brazilian circuits with the winning mindset that characterizes motorsport in that country, that prepared him for the biggest stages.
His single seater debut came in 2021, when he joined entry level car racing. In that very first year he already showed the precocity that would accompany him throughout his career, becoming at 14 years old the youngest driver in Brazil to win a car race in competition.
Formula 4: Brazil’s Youngest Champion
In 2022, Clerot competed in the inaugural Brazilian Formula 4 Championship and became its first-ever champion. That title was not just a result it was a declaration of intent. Pedro Clerot was ready for Europe. With seven victories from 15 races, four pole positions, and the championship crown, the Brazilian arrived on the continent with impeccable credentials.
That same year he also completed two rounds of the Italian Formula 4 Championship at Imola and Misano, finishing seventh representing Brazil in the Motorsport Games Formula 4 Cup.
Spanish Formula 4: Building European Experience
In 2023, aged 15, Clerot completed his first full European championship, joining the Spanish Formula 4 Championship with MP Motorsport, a reference team in the European junior ladder. The transition to Europe was demanding, but Clerot responded with maturity. He finished sixth in the overall standings with two victories, proving that the gap between Brazilian and European motorsport presented no barrier for him.
His choice of MP Motorsport carried significance: the team had developed drivers like Nyck de Vries and others who later reached the highest level. For Clerot, aligning with this caliber of structure sent a clear message about the ambitions of his career.
FRECA: Two Seasons of Constant Progress
In 2024, Clerot competed in his first Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) season, finishing eighth in the overall standings with two podiums. It was a campaign of adaptation and growth in a significantly more demanding category than Formula 4.
In 2025 he made a major qualitative step: in the FRECA he scored two victories and four additional podiums, finishing fourth in the overall standings when Rodin Motorsport signed him for Formula 3 with the season still running. The announcement came in October 2025, and Clerot’s words said everything: he had followed Rodin’s 2025 season closely and firmly believed that together they could achieve great things.
Formula 3 in 2026: A Debut to Remember
In March 2026, Pedro Clerot made his Formula 3 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne with Rodin Motorsport. The weekend began with a setback: a brake issue in qualifying left him 19th on the grid, far from where his practice times he had been seventh fastest in free practice suggested he could be.
But what he did next was exactly what separates talented drivers from class drivers: fight back. In the sprint race he progressed through the field, and in the Feature Race he advanced position by position until finishing eighth and scoring his first Formula 3 points.
Clerot himself described the challenge of adapting to the category’s new systems from DRS to virtual safety car procedures noting the added complexity compared to FRECA while emphasizing his satisfaction at finishing the weekend with solid points. It was the response of a mature driver, far more mature than his age suggests.
A Team That Believes in Him
Rodin Motorsport is one of the most forward-looking teams in current Formula 3. The organization bet on Clerot alongside Badoer, combining experience and youth. The team structure, technical support, and development philosophy that Rodin has demonstrated in recent years give Clerot the ideal environment to continue growing throughout the 2026 season.
The dream, naturally, is Formula 1. And with the pace Clerot has already demonstrated in his opening Formula 3 appearances, the question is not whether he has the potential. The question is when.
TIMELINE
- 2007 (approx.): Begins karting in Brazil. Multiple national titles.
- 2021: Single-seater debut. Becomes the youngest driver in Brazil to win a car race.
- 2022: Inaugural Brazilian F4 Champion. Participates in two Italian F4 rounds.
- 2023: Spanish F4 with MP Motorsport. Sixth in the championship, two victories.
- 2024: First FRECA season. Eighth in the championship, two podiums.
- 2025: Second FRECA season. Fourth in the championship, two victories and four additional podiums. Signed by Rodin for F3 2026.
- 2026: FIA Formula 3 debut with Rodin Motorsport. Eighth in the Australian GP Feature Race in his very first race.
IMPORTANT PHRASES
“I’m very happy to join Rodin for my first year in FIA F3. I followed their 2025 season very closely and I firmly believe that together, with the team, we can achieve great things.” — Pedro Clerot, F3 announcement October 2025.
“It’s a little bit more complicated than FREC for sure, but I’m just very happy that we can end up the weekend with some good points.” — Pedro Clerot, after his F3 debut in Australia 2026.
“It is great news to be joining MP Motorsport in my first full year in Europe.” — Pedro Clerot, Spanish F4 announcement 2022.
CURIOSITIES
- Pedro Clerot became the youngest driver in Brazilian motorsport history to win a race in car racing, achieving this feat at just 14 years old.
- Will Pedro Clerot be the next Brazilian driver to reach Formula 1 and continue the legendary tradition of Brazil at the top level of motorsport? Does he have what it takes? Tell us in the comments.
- He was the inaugural champion of the Brazilian Formula 4 Championship in 2022, the very first season of that series.
- Despite being born in Brazil and building his early career there, Clerot transitioned to Europe with remarkable ease, adapting to different cars, teams, and racing cultures across three different championships.
- He finished seventh representing Brazil in the Motorsport Games Formula 4 Cup in 2022.
- His debut weekend in Formula 3 at the 2026 Australian GP saw him start from 19th after a brake failure in qualifying, yet he recovered to eighth in the Feature Race showcasing the mental toughness that defines elite racing drivers.
- His teammate at Rodin Motorsport in 2026 is Badoer, creating a lineup that combines a seasoned F3 campaigner with an exciting rookie talent.
- Clerot completed two seasons in FRECA (2024 and 2025), improving from 8th to 4th in the standings and winning two races in his final year in the series.
- His career path mirrors that of several recent Formula 1 drivers who built their foundation in South American motorsport before launching successful European careers.
Sources: fiaformula3.com, es.motorsport.com, formulascout.com, pitdebrief.com, motortime.es, es.wikipedia.org, 51gt3.com
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