Interview
McLaughlin excited for ‘big jump’ up to F3 as he prepares for rookie campaign with Hitech
Fionn McLaughlin is very grateful to get the chance to move up to Formula 3 in 2026 with Hitech, having had a lot of success with the team already last year.
The 18-year-old stepped up to single seater racing in 2025 and had instant success with the British team, finishing third in the Formula Winter Series and winning the British F4 Championship.
McLaughlin is set to continue with the team for another year, and speaking earlier this month, he gave his thoughts on his graduation to F3.
“A very, very, big jump from F4,” said McLaughlin on stepping up to F3. “But I'm definitely very excited to drive a car that's completely different and very fast.
“To drive in such a high level Championship this year, with 30 drivers on the grid, that's quite amazing. So to have an opportunity to be here is something I'm very grateful for and I'm going to try and make the most of it.
“It's good to have a team that you've been with already and you know very well, and I'm trying to make the most of it with them, and to try and learn as much as I can this year.”
McLaughlin was also asked what he had found most difficult to get used to from F4, and he spoke about how the tyres took him by surprise when he first stepped into F3 machinery.
“It's very, very grippy compared to an F4 car,” said McLaughlin. “So with the lateral grip you have to use as much as you can out of it and I couldn't believe how much you could use.
“Trying to get used to that was quite tough, but now I'm there and I'm going to hopefully be good for the start of the season.”
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McLaughlin also spoke about how he had been preparing for the season, revealing all the work that he had been doing behind the scenes with Hitech and Red Bull Racing.
The Irish driver also spent a few weeks in New Zealand, racing at the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, to make sure there is no rust on his part at Round 1 in Melbourne.
“I did a lot of simulator work at Red Bull and then I was in New Zealand racing,” said McLaughlin on his preparations. “It's been good, a few private tests as well, so I'm trying to prepare as well as I can for heading into the season.
“In racing terms, it's good to get the cobwebs off. The grid was very tough, so to race high level drivers as well was good and to compete against people that I'll be racing this year as well was nice.”
While McLaughlin has goals and aspirations for what he wants his season to look like, he is also excited for what else is to come this year, including visiting tracks and cities that he had never previously been too.
“Mostly everything,” he said when asked what he was most excited for in 2026. “I haven't been to basically all the tracks.
“Monaco is really special, it's a street circuit, I love street circuits. Macau was very enjoyable for me and driving in such a cool place like Monaco as well is amazing.
“Then I think Spa, it's a very famous track, I've never been and going up Eau Rouge that first time will be amazing.
“I think making the most out of the lap and qualifying is my goal. It’s probably a small goal for me, but my racing and my tyre management are normally really good.
“So I've been good at that but trying to make the most out of the lap and qualifying will be a tough one this year and it'll be very important because everyone's going to be so close.”