James Wharton heads into the 2026 F3 season with urgency and a familiar PREMA badge on his race suit. The Australian rejoins PREMA Racing, the team with whom he began his single-seater journey, determined to convert hard lessons from last year into consistent results.
Wharton first joined the Italian squad in 2022 and spent three seasons embedded in its structure, finishing second in both the 2023 Euro 4 Championship and the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship. After a challenging rookie F3 season in 2025, he chose continuity over change. Now, he believes that decision positions him strongly for a decisive second campaign.
“It feels like coming back home” – Wharton on his return to PREMA for the 2026 F3 season
From the outset, Wharton committed to rebuilding with a team that understands his strengths and expectations. He did not rush the choice. Instead, he evaluated his options early and focused on restoring alignment between driver and engineers, knowing that clarity and continuity would prove crucial in a tightly contested F3 field.
“It feels like coming back home,” said Wharton to Formula 3 on his return to PREMA. “Very early on last year, I made the decision to come back to PREMA and build on a foundation that I’ve already had in the past.
That sense of familiarity played a decisive role in his thinking. Wharton values the relationships he built during his earlier spell with the team and believes that shared history provides a stronger platform than starting from zero elsewhere.
“At the end of last year, we did a lot of good work in the post-season tests, but also through the off-season we’ve worked really hard to try and get back on the same page.
Throughout the winter, driver and engineers analysed data in detail, addressed weaknesses from 2025 and refined communication processes. Rather than ignore difficult moments, they confronted them directly and searched for practical solutions.
“At the end of the day, I feel like both sides had some work to do from 2025 and we’re in a really good spot now. The team obviously had a really good end of the season and that gives me a lot of confidence going into this year.
A winter packed with racing and responsibility
Wharton refused to treat the off-season as downtime. Instead, he embraced one of the busiest winters of his career. He contested three rounds of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) in January, securing one victory, another podium and multiple points finishes. Before that, he stepped up to F2 machinery for the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season in Lusail, Qatar.
As pre-season testing in Barcelona approached, he reflected on the sheer volume of work completed.
“It’s been quite a busy off-season for me,” said Wharton. “Since the last race of F3, I have done a round of F2, done some testing, done some reference driving, and gone to New Zealand to do a couple of rounds before the season started.
That variety sharpened his adaptability. Switching between categories demanded rapid technical adjustment and disciplined preparation. Moreover, racing in New Zealand strengthened his mental resilience ahead of another F3 campaign.
“Overall, it’s been quite good preparation for me. New Zealand is obviously making us a bit more prepared, especially mentally to be in the game a little bit more. You feel like going into this week a lot more ready, ready to go from the first session and to be able to learn as much as possible.”
Consequently, Wharton arrives at the opening round feeling match-fit rather than rusty. He wants to attack from the very first practice session, aware that early momentum often defines an F3 season.
Wharton on learning from the “hardest year” and the lessons he takes into his 2026 F3 campaign with PREMA
Despite flashes of speed in 2025, including a Sprint Race victory at Spielberg, Wharton endured what he openly describes as the most demanding campaign of his career. Points proved elusive, and consistency slipped away at critical moments. Setbacks compounded pressure, and momentum often stalled just as it began to build. Nevertheless, he refuses to frame the year as wasted.
“2025, it was very obvious to see that it was the hardest year I’ve had in my career,” said Wharton. But I took a lot of positives away from how I approached the year.
Rather than dwell on missed opportunities, he examined his mindset. He focused on how he responded when results failed to reflect effort, and he assessed whether he maintained professionalism and drive under strain.
“When you have a tough season, it’s hard to restart and hard to get back on the front foot, but I feel like I can take away the gratitude I had throughout the season to keep pushing and to keep trying to improve even though it was getting tough at points.
“I took away that I have a character that cannot get broken so quickly, that at the same time I still wanted to race last year even when it got hard. So it shows me that I have the potential to win races even when it’s tough.
Looking ahead, he now channels those lessons into a clear objective. He recognises that F3 rewards discipline as much as outright pace, and he aims to convert determination into steady points finishes.
“In F3, it’s about being consistent, so in 2026, I just want to be as consistent as possible and deliver as many times as I can.”
A make-or-break mindset heading into 2026
When asked whether redemption fuels his motivation, Wharton does not hesitate. He recognises the stakes and embraces them. Rather than shy away from expectation, he confronts it directly and accepts the pressure that accompanies a second season in F3.
“For sure. 2026 for me is a make-or-break year, like I’ve already said in the interviews in the post-season testing.
That frank assessment underlines the urgency he feels. He understands how quickly opportunities can narrow in single-seater racing, particularly at the higher levels. Therefore, he approaches the campaign with sharpened focus and a determination to maximise every session.
“I’ve recognised quite quickly that this is the last chance to be able to show the world what I can do in the higher classes. I’m obviously vice-champion in FRECA, Formula 4, so I am trying to keep that going even after a tough season.”
Wharton motivated ahead of home race in Melbourne as he embarks on 2026 F3 campaign with PREMA
His first chance to show his potential this season will come when the 2026 campaign begins in Melbourne, offering Wharton an immediate emotional lift. The opening round carries extra weight for the Australian, as racing on home soil always sharpens both pride and expectation. Competing in front of family, friends and local supporters adds significance to the weekend and presents an early opportunity to reset his narrative after a challenging year.
“I want to get back home,” said Wharton when asked what he was looking forward to the most this season. “That will be good. I’ve spent quite a lot of time at home in this off-season, which is not very normal for me, but just racing at home is something that I can’t wait for. For me, it’s one of the best weekends, if not the best of the year.”
Consequently, Wharton enters 2026 with familiarity, hunger and perspective. He returns to PREMA Racing determined to convert resilience into results and to prove that his toughest year forged, rather than fractured, his ambitions.
