Louis Sharp says he will use every lesson from his challenging rookie campaign as he begins his 2026 FIA F3 journey with Prema Racing, aiming to return next season as a consistent front-runner.
Ambitions with Prema
Sharp enters 2026 with renewed confidence and a fresh environment, and he made clear just how much the PREMA opportunity means to him.
“First and foremost, I am super excited to be back in F3 for my second year. I’m really looking forward to kicking things off, especially with a team like PREMA.”
He emphasised the significance of joining one of junior single-seater racing’s most successful academies.
“I’m really excited and proud to be joining such a great team, with such a prestigious history in this category and all the other categories.
I’m really excited to get started with them, and hopefully we can have a good off-season and hit the ground running in Melbourne.”
Adapting to a new culture
Sharp spent six days of post-season testing in Jerez, Barcelona and Imola, using the time to integrate with his new team. The 18-year-old admitted the change of environment took him by surprise.
“It’s definitely a completely new culture. I’ve obviously only raced for one team before this, so it’s new for me, but I am really enjoying it so far.”
However, thanks to Prema’s strong team atmosphere, he quickly felt at home.
“They have been super welcoming; they’ve really made me feel like I’m meant to be here and made me feel like part of their family.
I’m really looking forward to kicking things off. The relationship off the track is super important, so getting on with the team and gelling with them is a huge bonus.”
Focusing on performance for 2026
The New Zealander knows that the real step forward must happen on track. After finishing 26th in the 2025 standings with 11 points and three scoring results, he plans to transform his hard-earned experience into early momentum next year.
“I think going into next year I just need to use the experience I’ve got. I want to hit the ground running and build momentum early in the year.”
Consequently, his expectations for his sophomore season are clear:
“Obviously as a second-year driver I need to be fighting at the front—fighting for race wins, fighting for consistent points finishes, and hopefully maybe a Championship. To be with a team such as PREMA, they will give me the opportunity to hopefully do that.”
He added, “So to be with a team such as PREMA, they will give me the opportunity to hopefully be able to do that. There is definitely a lot I learnt over my rookie season, a lot of good and bad, and a lot of tough times. But I can now use that, use those learnings going into next year, and use those to my advantage.”
Ultimately, Sharp’s 2025 rookie season provided a tough but valuable grounding. He scored three points finishes and concluded the year 26th with 11 points, highlighted by a strong fourth place in the Imola Sprint Race. Additionally, he produced a standout weekend in Hungary, gaining 29 positions across both races — a drive widely praised for its aggression and control.
