Photo: Trident
James Wharton will make his Formula 2 debut this weekend at Losail, joining Trident in a revised line-up.
The team ran Max Esterson and Sami Maguetounif in the first 11 rounds, then parted ways with the pair ahead of the most recent round in Baku last month and signed Laurens van Hoepen and Martinius Stenshorne.
It was announced last week that van Hoepen would keep the seat for the last two rounds at Losail and Yas Marina Circuit, while Stenshorne has switched to Rodin Motorsport for the rest of the season.
“I am incredibly grateful to Trident Motorsport for giving me this opportunity to race in the F2 championship,” said Wharton.
“It’s definitely a huge step in my career; there will be new challenges, starting with a more powerful car, longer races, increased tyre degradation, and pitstops. There will be a lot to learn, but I’ll try to make the most of this opportunity.
“Even though I won’t be racing in F2 next year, this is definitely a great opportunity to learn something new, grow, and bring home a good result.”
The 19-year-old Australian was Formula Regional European Championship runner-up and sixth in FRegional Middle East with Prema in 2024, then stepped up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year with ART Grand Prix and came 18th in the standings with one win but only three other points-scoring races. He will stay in F3 for 2026, joining Prema’s line-up.
“We are extremely happy to be able to field James Wharton in the next round of the F2 Championship,” Trident’s team manager Giacomo Ricci said.
“He is undoubtedly one of the most talented emerging drivers we have seen in FIA F3 this year. James is an extremely capable and fast driver. Making his debut in Lusail will certainly be a great challenge, but we have carried out intense preparation work that, I am confident, will bear fruit.”