James Wharton to race at home next year after signing deal with ART in Formula 3
Melbourne looks set to produce another F1 driver hot on the heels of Oscar Piastri with James Wharton signing for a powerhouse F3 team.
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Most Australian eyes will be on Oscar Piastri when next year’s Formula One season starts in Australia but there is another Melburnian hoping to steal some of his thunder.
Australia’s newest racing sensation James Wharton knows next year’s Australian Grand Prix could be one of the defining moments of his short career.
The 18-year-old, from Bundoora, in Melbourne’s northeast, will make his debut in Formula 3 (F3) with racing team ART.
F3 is the third tier of racing which leads to F1.
Wharton is looking to replicate the deeds of Piastri who won both the F3 and F2 titles on his way to the top.
He has been touted as a rising star in the sport after first coming onto the radar by winning the Cadet 12 title in Australian Karts in 2017.
After then becoming youngest ever winner of a KA2 series race in 2018, the decision was made to move overseas with his family.
That decision paid off enabling him to join one of the biggest teams in F1.
From 2021 to 2023 Wharton was part of Ferrari’s academy, becoming the first person to win a shootout and earn a coveted spot at the Italian powerhouse.
In 2024 Wharton and his team decided to go at it alone, moving away from the powerhouse manufacturer, to race without an academy.
He’s now excited for his next move.
“It’s been a big change for me since I’ve only been with one team in my Formula career,” Wharton said.
“We were in Macau last week, as the first race together, which we did to get everything ironed out before the first race next year.
“It’s been a really amazing couple of months already and we’re just getting started.”
During his time with Ferrari, Wharton raced for Prema, the same junior team as Piastri, in a range of series, all under the tutelage of those at Maranello.
His teammates included Kimi Antonelli, who is about to debut in Formula 1 with Mercedes, Charlie Wurz, the son of former F1 driver Alexander, and Rafael Câmara who is another Ferrari academy driver set to join Wharton in F3 next year.
He also found success, winning the Formula 4 UAE Championship, and finishing second in the Euro 4 Championship.
But this year Wharton and his team decided to go at it alone, moving away from the powerhouse manufacturer, to race without an academy.
The brave decision to leave the academy has worked, as Wharton finished second in the Formula Regional European Championship with Prema to set up his spot in F3.
His four race wins attracted the attention of ART, who have now given him his next chance to shine.
“There was a lot of discussion of what I would be doing and where I would be going, I’d been there for four years,” he said.
“I wasn’t able to grow exactly how I wanted (at Ferrari).
“So I took a step away from the Academy for this season to put myself in a position to be at my best.
“It was about building that part of my foundation to make that big push in F3 and big push in F2 and this is where it starts to count.
“The relationship I have with everyone in the team (Ferrari) is still amazing.
“I’ve built really good relationships with many people inside.”
Now the focus is on performing well and attracting interest from all 10 F1 teams - not just one.
Wharton joins a team which has already helped another Australian.
He takes over from New South Welshman Christian Mansell who will race in F2 with Trident.
Mansell this year claimed five podiums and finished fifth in the standings to show his talent.
“I’ve been teammates with Christian, he was a part of my father’s team in karting, so we’ve known each other for many years now,” he said.
“He’s definitely been a big help since he’s been part of the team for two years.
“He has a lot more experience than other drivers.”
Another challenge looms next year with a change in regulations meaning all teams will be racing brand new cars for the first race of the season in Melbourne.
But Wharton is confident of success.
“With a new car there’s a new possibility we can really move the team forward, especially after having a step up with Christian this year,” he said.
“For me it’s trying to take a different role and win a championship with the team.
“It’s a big gamble for 2025 to know exactly who’s going to get it correct.
“I’ve put myself in a position where the odds are definitely in my favour.”
Wharton’s immediate goal is to kickstart the season in style in Melbourne by becoming the first ever Australian winner in either Formula 1, Formula 2, or Formula 3 at an Australian Grand Prix.
“I feel like the biggest motivation right now is I’m starting at home,” Wharton said.
“If I can go home and either podium or win my first ever race in F3, it’s going to kickstart my career in a big way.
“All the work in the past seven years is building to that moment because it’s one time where you can show what you can do.
“That Sunday night (after my first race in Australia) is going to be a pinch me moment.”
The Australian Grand Prix will be held from March 13-16.
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