James Wharton will make his official Formula 3 debut this season with ART GP at his home race in Melbourne, Australia.
The 18-year-old driver is making the step up to F3 after spending a few years in various single seater categories. While he took part in one Formula 3 weekend in 2024, this will be his first season in the championship. Wharton will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous Australian F3 stars like Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan.
Early Career
As all drivers do, Wharton started his career in karting. He competed in a wide range of championships, winning a few along the way. His performances throughout his karting career earned him a spot in the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for 2022.
In 2022, Wharton made his single seater debut with PREMA Racing. He took part in Italian F4, Germany F4, and the Formula 4 UAE Championship. Ultimately, he finished fifth in all three championships.
The Ferrari Academy Driver returned to Italian F4 and F4 UAE in 2023, along with a new campaign in the Euro 4 Championship. This time, Wharton won the Formula 4 UAE Championship. He finished second in Euro 4 and fourth in Italian F4, winning multiple races in all three championships.
2024 in Review
James Wharton parted ways with the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2024. Stepping up from Formula 4, Wharton competed in both the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine and the Formula Regional Middle East Championship. After finishing second and sixth in the respective series’ as a rookie, he was ready for the next step.
Wharton also took part in two FIA Formula 3 races with Hitech Pulse-Eight and the Macau Grand Prix in 2024, preparing him for the new challenge ahead.
A New Challenge
James Wharton will compete in his first full-time Formula 3 season with ART Grand Prix this year. He will line up alongside fellow F3 rookie Tuukka Taponen and returning F3 driver Laurens Van Hoepen.
There are many rookies joining the grid in 2025, giving Wharton the perfect opportunity to stand out and use his limited 2024 experience to his advantage. He may no longer be a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, but he can still catch the attention of other F1 academies to support his path to Formula 1.
Feature Image Credit: Dutch Photo Agency
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