TRIDENT has announced James Wharton as the first of its two drivers for the 2027 FIA Formula 2 (F2) season.
Wharton joins F2 after two seasons in FIA Formula 3, where he achieved a total of two victories and four podiums while driving for ART Grand Prix and PREMA Racing, respectively. Despite a difficult start to the 2026 season, the Australian driver claimed victory in the Barcelona Sprint Race, securing PREMA Racing’s first F3 win since 2024. He then finished P2 in the season finale in Madrid, ending the campaign P17 in the Drivers’ Standings with 39 points.
Wharton: “Really looking forward to starting this new chapter”
The 20-year-old will enter his first full-time F2 season with previous experience, having made his debut with the Italian outfit at the 2025 Lusail F2 round. Despite enduring a challenging weekend, with a DNF in the Sprint Race and a P19 finish in the Feature Race, Wharton shared his excitement about returning to TRIDENT in 2027 and building on their previous F2 work together.
“I really can’t put into words what this opportunity for 2027 means to me,” he said. “To be able to return to TRIDENT after racing with them in 2025 is something really special. We worked very well together and they are a very prestigious team that has done a great job over the last few seasons.”
“I’m looking forward to joining the team and continuing to work hard with them over the winter, so that we can arrive in 2027 in the best possible shape. A huge thank you to Giacomo and Maurizio for giving me the opportunity to drive their car and be part of their team. I can’t thank TRIDENT enough, and I’m really looking forward to starting this new chapter of my career.”
Ricci on Wharton’s progress
TRIDENT Team Manager Giacomo Ricci also expressed his confidence in Wharton’s potential, highlighting the Australian’s development since his F2 debut with the team:
“We are very happy to announce that James Wharton will compete in the 2027 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Trident Motorsport. We got to know him at the end of 2025, when he made his debut with us in F2, and since then we have continued to closely monitor his development. James has demonstrated speed, talent, and great determination. The season just ended allowed him to gain further experience, and we are confident that the work we will do together will enable him to take a significant step forward.”
