Caleb Campbell Reflects on his Rookie Season: What Comes Next

Q: When you look back at your rookie year as a whole, what stands out as the biggest learning curve for you?

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A: The biggest learning curve was adapting to racing around other drivers. I’d never raced in an F4 car before this year, so learning how to find openings, capitalising on others’ mistakes, and racing wheel-to-wheel was a big step for me.

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Q: Was there a moment this season where something finally clicked and you felt like you belonged in the championship?

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A: During the Road America race, everything came together. In previous races I’ve always had strong pace, but luck didn’t always go my way. It felt like Road America was the turning point.

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Q: What was the toughest track for you to adapt to, and why?

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A: Racing at the NOLA Motorsports Park in Louisiana was the toughest to adapt as it was my first time in the car and we didn’t have much track time to prepare. It was a steep learning curve and a lot to adapt to in such a short period of time. 

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Q: If you could redo one race weekend from your rookie season, which one would it be?

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A: Probably my final race in Alabama. I made an unfortunate mistake at the start, and even though I caught back up and finished well, I wish I could’ve ended the season on a stronger note. That race really emphasized the importance of the fine details and that one small mistake can have significant consequences. 

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Q: If you could go back to the beginning of the championship and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?

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A: I would say, trust yourself more. Believe in your abilities and have the confidence to go out there and do what you know how to do. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into developing my craft from a young age and I wish at the beginning of the season I had more confidence to trust in my training. 

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Q: What’s something about your first season that fans don’t usually see but had a big impact on your performance?

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A: People don’t see all the work that goes on behind the scenes. Between races the team has to put a lot of time into my car by going over everything to make sure that the car is in optimal shape to be competitive for the next race. This would include maintenance of components and replacing any parts that are worn or damaged. It’s a lot of work for the team. For myself, there is a lot of data review work that takes place after a race. All components of the race weekend including my preparation, what I ate and drank prior to the race, my sleep,my practices, what distractions I have during the weekend, how well I started the race, the race craft itself, how I handled stress and pressure, and many other areas are analyzed to get better.People don’t often realize all of the little details that are involved. Also, outside of racing, I’ve been doing public speaking. Speaking in front of business groups is a new experience for me, and it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’m gaining traction in speaking to large groups and it has helped me gain confidence and exposure as a driver.

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Q: How did you balance school, travel, and racing throughout the year?

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A: It can be challenging for sure. My school has been very supportive of me and my goals. Whenever I travel, they accommodate me and help keep my workload manageable. Oftentimes, I am traveling home at midnight or later on a Sunday and having to get up for school on Monday morning which makes Mondays pretty grueling. In my experience school studies and racing don’t mix well. It’s difficult to do school work during the race weekend. I do my best to get ahead of my work and that can include while in airports or while flying, but once we touch down, my brain has to focus on the racing. Once the weekend is over I’ll have some catch up to do, but my teachers have been helpful in working with me on my studies. 

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Q: Is there a piece of advice from your team that stuck with you all year?

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A: My driver coach, Patrick Woods-Toth, told me he believes in me more than I believe in myself. That motivated me to push harder.

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Q: How are you planning to rest and recharge now that the season’s wrapped up?

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A: My family and I took a holiday in November. It was an opportunity to slow things down for a week, to recharge and relax for a change. During the off season , I’m focusing on public speaking and finding more sponsorship for next year while figuring out where and what I’ll be racing.

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Q: Are you doing any specific training this offseason?

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A: I’m continuing strength training at school and working privately with my strength coach. We’re focusing more on endurance and reaction time this winter.

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Q: Any fun non-racing goals or hobbies for the offseason?

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A: I’m hoping to get on the ice more and play some hockey. It’s something I’ve really been enjoying lately.

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Q: How has your rookie year shaped your goals for next season?

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A: Finishing fifth in the championship gave me a good benchmark. I now know that I could fight for the championship if I returned, or that I could move up. It’s given me a clear baseline for next year.

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Q: Are there any areas of your driving you want to sharpen for 2026?

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A: As for driving, yes of course there are always areas for improvement. For 2026 I’d like to get more experience in different cars and some more private testing days. Overall, I’d like more track time.

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Q: What’s something you want fans to look out for next year?

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A: 2026 is going to be a big year. There’s a lot of optimism for my career and I have some fantastic opportunities ahead of me. I’m really looking forward to next year. I think fans will have a lot to be excited about.

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Q: What was your biggest “rookie moment” this season?

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A: My biggest ‘rookie moment’ was definitely setting the fastest lap at the Mid-Ohio race in June . As a new driver on a start-up team, showing that pace was a cool moment.

Q: What’s one thing you can’t live without on a race weekend?

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A: My pre-race meal—Chipotle. A little bit of rice, beans, lettuce, it has everything I need to perform, but please skip the queso!

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