PREMA Racing’s Louis Sharp heads into the 2026 F3 season with renewed determination following a challenging rookie campaign with Rodin Motorsport. The New Zealander arrived in Formula 3 on the back of consecutive titles in British F4 and GB3, but faced a significant step during the 2025 season.
Now returning to the grid with a new team, Sharp approaches the opening round armed with lessons learned from his rookie campaign and aims to translate that experience into a stronger campaign. During a recent virtual media session, the 18 year-old spoke to Pit Debrief and other media outlets, reflecting on his rookie season, outlining his targets for the year and addressing the current team dynamics at PREMA following the Rosin family’s departure.
A tough rookie campaign with Rodin Motorsport
After enjoying success in British F4 and GB3, Sharp’s 2025 season didn’t unfold as he had hoped, saying: “I think 2025 was definitely a tough year. Probably the toughest year I’ve had to date in motorsport. Coming off a very successful [20]23 and 24 I think the expectation in 2025 was quite high.
“I think there’s multiple reasons why we weren’t quite able to keep the momentum going and achieve what I think we would have been able to achieve.”
He outlined several factors behind his struggles, including his lack of familiarity with many of the circuits on the calendar and the fast-paced format of a Formula 3 weekend. Despite the challenges he faced, Sharp has taken the setbacks in his stride and values them as he prepares for the 2026 season.
“First of all you know F3 is a big step up especially coming from GB3 not knowing any of the circuits was a really tough thing to adapt to. Turning up to most of these tracks for the first time in practice and having never driven that. You know with F3, you do one or two laps then you go straight into qualifying so it’s pretty difficult. But look, it’s a lot more than that.”
He added: “There’s a lot of reasons. I won’t go into too much detail but I think in 2025, although it was so tough, I probably learned the most about myself and learned the most as I have in any year.
“I think as a driver when things aren’t going well you actually learn a lot more than what you do when maybe they are. So there’s multiple reasons why 25 didn’t go well but I think I’ve learned a lot from them and improved a lot because of it.”
Defining a solid 2026 campaign
Like many of his rivals, Sharp anticipates a highly competitive 2026 F3 season and believes that consistency paired with a realistic approach, will prove crucial to success this year. He said: “I think, look 2026 is a really exciting year. I think as a thinking Formula 3 driver you need to be fighting at the front, fighting for consistent points, consistent podiums and consistent race wins really.”
“Look as James [Wharton] just mentioned, the grid is incredibly competitive this year especially but I think every year in Formula 3, so I think winning every race is definitely not possible. I think that would be quite a let’s say unrealistic thing to aim for, so I think the important thing is just to be consistent really.”
When asked to define what would constitute a successful year for him, the 18 year-old kept his answer simple, saying: “I think for me the biggest thing in 2026 is I need to build on what I’ve learnt in the past. As I mentioned earlier 2025 was a tough year, but I’ve learnt a lot so I need to now go out and put that in place.”
Looking to improve on his 26th-place finish in the standings, Sharp hopes that consistently finishing in the top eight each weekend will help him piece together a campaign he can be proud of.
“I think if I can be in the top seven, in the top eight every weekend I think that’s what it takes to put a solid campaign together. So obviously I want to be fighting for wins and fighting for pole positions but the main thing for me is just the consistency for 2026.”
A new start at PREMA
When Pit Debrief asked the 2026 F3 PREMA lineup about beginning a new season with new teams, to which Sharp replied: “I’m really excited to be racing for PREMA in 26. Obviously they’ve got a proven history in junior single-seaters, F3 especially. So joining such a prestigious team with such a good history in the sport is a real honour.”
While his teammate James Wharton returns to a familiar environment, Sharp and José Garfais embark on a new chapter with the Italian outfit. Sharp noted that he has settled in well and feels confident that the team environment has ensured him that he’s in the right place for his sophomore campaign.
“I think look already in testing and pre-season building a really good relationship with the team. As James [Wharton] mentioned he’s obviously been here a bit longer whereas for me and Jose [Garfais] we’re kind of the new kids on the block almost. But no it’s kind of, at least to me, fit in right away.”
“PREMA have been extremely welcoming and yeah I think they’ve given us a really good environment to work in and I think look everything’s looking really positive for this. I don’t think there’s any place I’d rather be.”
A good Qualifying is the key to success
From his rookie season, Sharp learned that consistency across every race weekend is crucial to building a competitive campaign. While success doesn’t have to be defined through wins or podiums, he believes it’s less about perfection and more about being reliable.
“I think to me the biggest lessons learned is just what it takes to put a full campaign together. As I mentioned earlier, I think all 30 drivers on the F3 grid are fast enough to probably be at the front, but it’s the ones that are able to be there week in week out.”
“It’s not always about winning sometimes, it’s about finishing fourth, fifth, maybe even sixth. So I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is it’s not about being perfect, it’s just about being reliable every weekend.”
He further emphasised the importance of qualifying, describing it as a make-or-break factor in any race weekend.
“I think the biggest thing I’m taking into the season is like I said just about consistency especially in qualifying. Qualifying is such an important part of the weekend. I think almost after qualifying your weekend’s already kind of won or lost.”
“So I think for me the important thing is to be at the front in that top top eight every round, and I think the focus for me is purely on the consistency and delivering every single time.”
Media turmoil surrounding PREMA’s financial situation
Ahead of the 2026 season, the junior formula world was rocked by the news of the Rosin’s family departure from PREMA. This sparked widespread rumours and speculation about the team’s future.
Blocking out the noise, Sharp echoed sentiments similar to Wharton, saying: “I think James [Wharton] summed it up pretty well to be honest. Yeah there’s always a lot of talk, a lot of rumours about motorsport, but yeah as James said the environment is equally as strong as it was you know six months ago.”
He noted that the team dynamics have remained largely unchanged. While the team struggled during their 2025 campaign, Sharp is setting sights on success with PREMA. Despite the media turmoil, Sharp and his teammates remain focused on delivering strong results.
He added: “Well for me, in October when I first joined the team and look everyone’s equally motivated to win in his turn and that’s the main thing. I think look as drivers maybe it would be easy to get caught up on all the all the rumours but that’s not what we’re here for. We’re here to drive so that’s all I’m focused on. I’m just focused on delivering. I think all the other stuff in the background is nothing to do with me really.”
“My job is just to drive, and I think anyway as I said the background noise is actually not nearly as much as what I think a lot of people maybe think. So yeah, the team’s ready to win, they’re fighting, they’re giving everything so look our job as drivers is to fight with them and just deliver on what we can on the circuit.”
