James Wharton has finished his 2022 racing calendar with a mixed weekend in the Italian Formula 4 Championship season finale at Mugello.

After securing a top five finish in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship last week, Wharton ended his Italian campaign the year in fifth place in the Italian championship headed into the final Italian round full of confidence in the hopes of ending the year inside the top five.

Unfortunately his chances took a major hit in qualifying as he was unable to post a time due to multiple red flags and a double yellow on his final lap – forcing him towards the back of the field.

With 41 drivers entered in the round, Wharton had plenty of work to do but a major setback at the start of the first race saw him back to the pits prematurely and out of the race in a bid to fix the car ahead of Sunday’s competition. 

Fortunately for Wharton, his Polish rival Kacper Sztuka also retired in the race, giving him a glimmer of hope for a top five finish for the final day of action.

Starting the second race from 11th after a tough second qualifying, Wharton had a good run up the field to make up four positions, reaching the chequered flag in seventh place.

With Sztuka beating him by three places, it elevated the Pole to fifth and six points clear of Wharton.

Not being deterred, the young Aussie then went on to get his best result of the weekend with a fifth place finish having started from P14. 

Making his result even better was a Sztuka retirement, which saw Wharton back into fifth by four points and with another outright top five for 2022.

In addition to his outright P5, Wharton also ended the year in fourth in the Rookie Championship. 

With both the Italian and German F4 Championships now completed, Wharton will do a number of test days with the Ferrari Driver Academy before announcing 2023 plans.