Abdulloyev Sets Fastest Lap at Zhuhai Test
Tajik driver Bezhan Abdulloyev posted the quickest time in his first Formula 3.5 outing at Zhuhai International Circuit.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
Bezhan Abdulloyev set the fastest lap at Formula 3.5 testing at Zhuhai International Circuit, completing the circuit in 1 minute 29.947 seconds on October 24, 2026. The 19-year-old finished more than 6.5 seconds ahead of the second-fastest driver in his first time behind the wheel of a Formula 3.5 car.
Why it matters
The result came in a former Red Bull Racing car run by Champ Motorsport, and former Formula 1 engineer Greg Wheeler assessed Abdulloyev as ready for Formula 3-level competition. Wheeler recommended professional Formula 3 and Formula 2 teams consider him as a candidate.
Abdulloyev lowered his best lap from 1:37.323 in the first session to 1:30.058 in the second and then 1:29.947 in the third. His fastest time was 0.248 seconds quicker than the 2006 Zhuhai benchmark.
The players
Bezhan Abdulloyev
A 19-year-old Tajik racing driver whose first Formula 3.5 test produced the fastest lap at Zhuhai, and who aims to compete in Formula 1.
Greg Wheeler
A former Formula 1 engineer who praised Abdulloyev's performance and recommended him to professional Formula 3 and Formula 2 teams.
Champ Motorsport
The team that operated the former Red Bull Racing car Abdulloyev drove in the Zhuhai test.
The details
Abdulloyev completed three test sessions at Zhuhai and surpassed several previous Champ Motorsport benchmarks during the day. The test was his first time driving a Formula 3.5 car, and his ultimate ambition is to compete in Formula 1.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: Formula 3.5 testing at Zhuhai International Circuit, where Abdulloyev set the fastest lap
October 29, 2026: Kursiv Uzbekistan published an interview with Abdulloyev
Roadmap
Abdulloyev's Zhuhai time is measured against Karun Chandhok's 2006 benchmark at the same circuit, which he beat by 0.248 seconds. The result places a newcomer's debut time ahead of a long-standing reference point in the feeder-series ladder that leads toward Formula 1.
Professional Formula 3 and Formula 2 teams may consider Abdulloyev as a candidate following Wheeler's recommendation. Fans tracking driver development can follow his progress as he pursues a seat in a professional series.
The takeaway
A strong first session in an unfamiliar car can signal readiness for higher-level competition, though a single test result does not guarantee a professional seat. Wheeler's endorsement shows how test performance can open doors for young drivers seeking a path toward Formula 1.
Further reading
For more on track performance and benchmarks, see Performance Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Asiaplus.
