Kiwi rising star Louis Sharp will take the next step in his single-seater career, with Velocity News understanding he has signed with Italian powerhouse Prema Racing for the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
The move comes after a challenging rookie campaign in 2025 with Rodin Motorsport, where the 18-year-old learned valuable lessons racing against some of the world’s best junior drivers on ten Formula 1 circuits.
Sharp entered F3 on a high, carrying momentum from back-to-back titles in British F4 and GB3, and strong pre-season testing performances that saw him consistently among the frontrunners. But the season didn’t unfold as hoped, ending with a cruel engine issue in the finale at Monza.
“I certainly had higher hopes going into the year,” Sharp admitted after the final round.
“Off the back of my last two seasons, I wanted to be at the front, fighting for podiums and race wins. Winning the championship as a rookie was always going to be a big ask, but I expected to be consistently challenging for points and perhaps podiums when opportunities presented themselves.”
Despite the struggles, there were standout moments. Sharp delivered two top-ten finishes on debut at Monaco, one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar, as well as an impressive fourth place at Imola and a storming recovery drive in Hungary, where overtaking opportunities are notoriously limited.
His results also contributed to Rodin Motorsport’s best-ever finish in the Teams’ Championship, placing sixth overall.
“It’s been a tricky year, but I’ve definitely learned a lot,” Sharp reflected.
“I knew F3 would be tough, but probably not quite as tough as it has been. Still, I’ve discovered so much about myself and my driving – things I wouldn’t have learned if I’d been out front winning. I’ve had to dig deep, and that will serve me well going forward.
“It’s also been fantastic to learn the circuits – that’s another huge positive for the future – as well as gaining experience with the Pirelli tyres, which behave very differently to the more robust ones I raced on in the UK, but are similar in character to those used in F2 and F1.
“Finally, I want to thank David Dicker and everyone at Rodin Motorsport for their support over the past four seasons in which we have won five titles together. While this year hasn’t matched the success of the three before, I’m confident the invaluable experiences I’ve gained will pay dividends for what’s ahead.”
Prema Racing will provide Sharp with an opportunity to reset and regroup for 2026. The Italian squad is one of the most successful junior single-seater teams in motorsport history, having nurtured talents such as Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Mick Schumacher.
The team endured a challenging 2025 campaign, finishing seventh in the Teams’ Championship with 92 points. Their line-up featured Italian Brando Badoer, Mexican Noel León, and American rookie Ugo Ugochukwu.
Sharp’s arrival marks a fresh start both for the team and for the young Kiwi. The move will place him in a proven environment known for developing future Formula 1 stars, giving him the tools to convert his flashes of speed into consistent results.
Ultimately, Sharp views his 2025 campaign as a character-building chapter in his career, one that prepares him for the bigger opportunities ahead.
“While this year hasn’t been easy, it’s given me the foundation I need for what’s to come,” he said.
An official announcement confirming Sharp’s Prema Racing deal is expected in the coming weeks.
Header Image: Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images
