Louis Sharp’s debut FIA Formula 3 season with Rodin Motorsport showed flashes of promise during a tough learning year.
Sharp’s single-seater began from two full seasons in the NZ Formula First Championship, after which he moved to British F4 in 2022, and continued in 2023 to win the title. He continued that momentum by winning the GB3 Championship in 2024 with Rodin Motorsport. This success earned him a seat with the same team for his rookie F3 campaign in 2025.
Early round challenges
Sharp’s first race in Melbourne highlighted both the excitement and difficulty of adapting to F3 machinery. After qualifying 15th, he finished 17th and 14th in the Sprint and Feature Races, respectively, while teammate Roman Bilinski stood on the podium in 3rd.
Bahrain followed with a similar pattern: flashes of qualifying potential, but difficulty converting it into points. Despite climbing four places in the Sprint from 18th, Sharp finished 14th before dropping to 23rd the next day in the Feature Race.
Finding form in Imola and Monaco
The turning point came at Imola, where Sharp delivered a strong performance to finish fourth in the Sprint Race; his best result of the season. The New Zealander missed out on the podium, but executed key overtakes and kept within close distance of the leaders.
He continued this point-scoring streak going into Monaco. Starting both races in 13th, he secured two ninth-place finishes, scoring valuable points and establishing himself as Rodin’s lead driver by overtaking teammate Callum Voisin in the Sprint. Although it was his first time racing around the tight streets, it became Sharp’s most consistent weekend.
It was a moment that demonstrated Sharp’s growing confidence and precision.
Mid-season struggles and comebacks
As the season progressed, Sharp’s results varied. In Barcelona, he finished just outside the points in 13th and 12th before retiring from the Austrian Sprint due to contact with Christian Ho. Silverstone brought mixed fortunes; he made a strong start in the wet Feature Race, charging from 23rd to 8th, which soon after ended in disappointment after a spin at Turn 18 caused his retirement.
Sharp bounced back at the Hungaroring, finding impressive pace. After qualifying 28th, he stormed through the field to finish 16th in the Sprint and 11th in the Feature, gaining a remarkable 29 places across the weekend. With this, he set a new record for the most places gained across a single F3 round, a standout achievement for a rookie.
A tough season finale
In the final race of the season, Sharp only finished 22nd in the Sprint Race at Monza. While in the Feature Race, he showed promise early on by climbing from 22nd to 16th before an unfortunate engine issue forced him to retire on Lap 14.
Sharp ultimately finished 26th in the Drivers’ Championship with 11 points, while Rodin Motorsport reached 6th in the team standings with 128 points, reflecting the stronger performances of teammates Bilinski and Voisin.
Season takeaways
Louis Sharp’s rookie F3 season had its highs and lows. A standout performance at Imola saw him finish fourth in the Sprint Race, while other rounds, like Monza, ended in disappointment due to retirements and mechanical issues.
Rodin Motorsport has already confirmed a 2026 F3 lineup featuring Pedro Clerot, Christian Ho, and Brando Badoer, with Sharp no longer part of the team’s plans. He recently took part in post-season testing with PREMA Racing, finishing 8th in day one’s afternoon session, showing improved pace and adaptability.
While the 2025 results may not reflect his true potential, Sharp’s debut F3 season provided a crucial learning experience and a foundation to build on in the future.
