Wharton: What next for FDA gun?
James Wharton claimed his maiden junior Formulae title last weekend in the UAE F4 Championship ahead of his second Italian F4 tilt.
The Victorian born Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) young gun sprung to life after round 1 in Dubai, going on a point scoring rampage, claiming four wins and seven podiums in Kuwait, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.
In the strongest field ever assembled in seven years of the UAE F4 championship, Wharton came from behind to take the series over the highly regarded Finnish pilot Tuukka “Tiger” Taponen.
He also beat American Ugo Ugochukwu, a member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme, and Italian racer Valerio Rinicella, a student of former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella, and British Red Bull Academy driver Arvid Lindblad.
Wharton swept the podiums at Dubai in round 4 of the UAE F4 to go into the series lead
Wharton spoke with AUTO ACTION after the Kuwait round, and spoke about his year ahead.
“This year is a lot harder for me, because there’s more expectation to perform. Last year was just testing the water and getting familiar, but now it’s a big moving year,” he explained.
“I’m only young, but I feel I’ve been in the European space long enough to deal with the pressure. It’s a hard space to control your emotions and keep calm in, and I feel I’ve got that advantage over others that are just coming through.
“There’s quite a few drivers I’ve been racing against for years now, but the current experience really amplifies where I can know and exploit their weaknesses on track, and I’m sure they do the same. And whilst we all respect each other’s capabilities, I feel like I can go out there and beat anyone.”
Wharton (middle) with the UAE F4 championship trophy, with Italian F4 counterparts Taponen (L) and Ugocukwu (R).
Wharton’s season ahead now involves his second tilt at the Italian F4 Championship, whereas as a 15-year-old in 2022 he finished fifth with five podiums and was a regular top-five finisher.
He was also a race winner and front runner in the now defunct German ADAC F4 Championship.
It’s an exciting series in Italy for 2023, with plenty of highly regarded future names, including Taponen and Ugochukwu racing for the same team as Wharton – Prema – as well as Taponen sharing quarters in Maranello in the FDA.
Wharton has been with the FDA since the age of 14 when he won selection in the 2020 world finals after spending several years in Europe as a dominant Karter.
He’ll also be amongst several other young Aussies in Italy, with 2022 FDA finalists Gianmarco Pradel (US Racing) and Jack Beeton (TBA) also competing.
Wharton competing for Prema at Monza in the Italian F4 Championship, 2022
Prema’s team principal Angelo Rosin, was happy to be able to continue another season with Wharton.
“It’s good to have James with us for another F4 season together. I think what he learned in his first season will benefit himself throughout 2023 but also the team as a whole in terms of consistency and knowledge,” the the Venetian team boss.
“We will do our best to help him achieve more winning results after an already positive 2022 programme and we are delighted to keep working with him.”
It’s expected that Wharton may take up some other rounds in some corresponding series, and with the rate he’s developing his race craft and winning abilities, an F3 seat will most certainly be close.
Wharton claims his maiden European Formulae victory at the Nurburgring in the German F4 in 2022
2023 Italian Formula 4 Championship
- Imola April 21-23
- Misano World Circuit May 5-7
- Spa Francorchamps May 26-28
- Monza June 23-25
- Circuit Paul Ricard July 21-13
- Mugello Circuit Sept 29-Oct 1
- Vallelunga Circuit October 13-15
Follow AUTO ACTION for updates on Australia’s premier open wheel talent across a busy 2023.
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