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Sharp keen to learn from 2025 to fight at the front with PREMA next season
Louis Sharp is hoping that he can use the lessons from a trying rookie season to fight for the Drivers’ Championship in 2026, as he settles into his new surroundings at PREMA Racing.
The New Zealander is coming off the back of a 2025 campaign in which had just three points scoring results, before ending the year with 11 points and 26th in the Standings.
But Sharp is now set to return for another year in the Championship, but this time he is doing so in new colours, as he prepares to race in PREMA red in 2026.
“First and foremost, I am super excited to be back in F3 for my second year,” said Sharp. “I’m really looking forward to kicking things off, especially with a team like PREMA.
“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.”
Sharp had six days of post-season testing last month in Jerez, Barcelona, and Imola with the team, and showed good form throughout.
Speaking in Jerez, the 18-year-old explained how different his new environment was compared to what he had become used to in his single seater career.
“It's definitely a completely new culture,” he said. “I have obviously only raced for one team before this. So it’s a new culture for me, but I am really enjoying it so far.
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“They have been super welcoming, they have really made me feel like I am meant to be here and really made me feel like part of their family.
“So I am 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.”
On the track though is where Sharp’s main focus lies, and the three post-season tests would have been useful for him in his preparation for next year.
The plan for the Kiwi is to continue to work hard over the winter, with Sharp aiming to get off to a fast start at Round 1 in Melbourne, and to be in the fight for the title come the final round.
“I think going into next year I just need to use the experience I have got,” said Sharp. “I want to hit the ground running and build the momentum early on in the year.
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“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.
“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.”