Michael Shin will return full-time to the FIA F3 grid in 2026 with Hitech TGR. Having previously competed in F3 in 2023 with PHM Racing by Charouz and in the GB3 Championship with Hitech Pulse-Eight, Shin brings valuable experience and familiarity with the team. He enters the new season focused on applying the lessons learned from past campaigns, with preparation, testing and physical training all aimed at ensuring a strong and competitive return.
Comfort in familiar surroundings
Returning to a team he knows brings both reassurance and strategic advantage. Shin emphasises the importance of familiarity in easing the transition to a full-time F3 campaign. He reflected on the benefit of having already worked with many of the team members, noting that this allows him to focus on performance rather than adaptation.
“It’s an honour. Coming back to a team that I’ve had a little bit of experience with has made the integration a little bit easier. I was better prepared because I knew a lot of the team members already.”
Beyond simply recognising faces, Shin explained that understanding the team’s processes also smooths the path to performance. He is already familiar with their approach to sim work, pre-event routines and race weekend structures, which provides consistency in a highly competitive environment.
“I also know how the team functions quite well, because I have been with them in a different category, we still follow the same pre-event process, sim work and race weekend routine. So in that sense, it does help that I’ve already worked with the team in the past.”
Despite this comfort, Shin is conscious that stepping up to FIA Formula 3 presents a markedly higher challenge. While familiarity brings confidence, the technical and physical demands of the car—and the level of competition—require adaptation and constant learning, as Shin acknowledged.
“But, at the same time, there’s also a big difference coming up to F3 because it’s a much higher level, so I still need to get used to some new things.”
Adapting to F3’s competitive demands
As Shin looks ahead to 2026, he highlights the challenges that make F3 distinct. Chief among these is the pressure of Qualifying, where the single-lap format leaves no room for error. Unlike other categories where drivers have multiple attempts to set competitive times, F3 demands perfection from the first lap. He explained how this requirement sharpens the focus and sets the tone for the weekend.
“For me, I don’t think it’s the weekend format that most difficult to adjust to. I think it’s the fact that you’re using a tyre that’s very peaky, and you have to deliver on that one push lap, because, in a lot of other series, you get multiple goes at it.”
Shin noted that previous race weekend experience—albeit limited in F3—is advantageous. He claimed that it helps him understand how to structure a session and maximise performance from the start.
“Whereas in F3, you really need to get top of your game as soon as the session starts. I would say that it definitely does help having done a race already, because I’ll be going to Melbourne knowing what to expect. Yes, the car has changed, and it’s a new team, but the weekend format is still the same.”
Learning and progress through post-season testing
Shin’s early preparation involved extensive post-season testing, which coincided with the conclusion of his Euroformula campaign. Balancing testing with the final races of the season presented a hectic schedule, yet Shin sees this period as highly productive for learning and acclimatising to the F3 machinery.
“I would say it was overall positive. The first test at Jerez, and the day in Barcelona I did was quite strong. I struggled a bit more in Imola, but this was all happening whilst I was rounding off my season in Euroformula. So, it’s quite it was a very busy month, and I was also fighting for the championship, so there was a lot going on.”
Despite these challenges, with the car’s handling and the improvements made since previous models impressed Shin. He remarks on the small changes that make a noticeable difference, such as the design of the tub and seat, which accommodate a broader range of drivers.
“Overall, it felt like the new car was very nice to drive, not too different from the car used up until 2024, but also there were little changes, like the tub, the seat was a bit more accommodating to a wider variety of drivers.”
The cumulative experience of these testing days has provided invaluable insights, boosting Shin’s confidence as he looks toward the first official race of the season.
“I’ve learned so much during those season testing days, and I’m very excited and looking forward to next season.”
Physical preparation: Meeting the demands of F3
Technical preparation alone is not enough in F3; the physical demands of braking, cornering and longer race distances also play a critical role. Shin has identified specific areas that require targeted improvement, particularly leg strength and endurance, to handle the intensity of a full-time campaign.
“The biggest thing for me now is upping my physical preparation, because F3 is a lot harder than any other car I’ve driven in relation to braking demand. So I’m really going to have to work on lower body strength, and also the races are becoming longer, so that’s good endurance as well. That’s going to be a key factor for me.”
Looking ahead: Experience, preparation, ambition
With experience from 2023, a strong relationship with the Hitech team, and intensive preparation behind him, Michael Shin enters 2026 with clear objectives. He understands both the challenges and opportunities, combining prior knowledge with renewed focus and ambition. His reflections reveal a driver who is ready to take the lessons of the past, apply them systematically, and make a decisive impact in his first full-time F3 season.
By blending technical, physical, and strategic preparation, Shin positions himself to convert experience into results, aiming not merely to participate, but to progress competitively through a challenging and highly contested FIA Formula 3 championship.
