Having won the Ferrari Driver Academy Selection Program World Finals in 2020, James Wharton has worked hard to become one of the Academy’s best performers amongst its eight current members.
 
What began as a tough initiation into the academy, where he struggled to adapt to life in Italy, has since transformed into something special.
 
His first major milestone came with a hattrick of victories in the Formula 4 UAE Championship at the start of 2022, before he went on to win that same championship earlier this year.
 
Now, in his second year competing in the world’s toughest Formula 4 competition, the Italian F4 Championship, Wharton sits fourth on the standings having scored two wins and a further five podiums.
 
But it’s not just his results that are getting better, it’s his race craft and confidence overall that has also seen significant improvement.
 
“It feels like every time I get in the car, something improves, which reassures me that I am making the right decisions to get the best out of my driving,” Wharton said.
 
“The improvements give me a lot of confidence because I know everything seems to be going in the right direction and I am doing the right things.
 
“I think the FDA has now realised why I am there. Obviously my first year of karting was challenging, and although my first F4 year was okay, it still wasn’t where we wanted to be.
 
“But now, I'm finally showing who I am, and people are understanding what I need and how I perform, which makes me feel comfortable, and when I'm in a comfortable state of mind, things go right.
 
“I am just focused on doing my job which are results, and out of the eight FDA drivers, I am performing the best, and that’s including Arthur Leclerc and Oliver Bearmen, so that makes me feel like I am on the right page.”


It’s a remarkable change of fortunes for Wharton, who has faced plenty of adversity throughout his three years in the FDA.
 
From struggling in his first year in karting to improving ever so slightly in his first year of Formula 4, Wharton has now found his groove and is getting the results he knows he is capable of.
 
And it’s those difficult first two years with the FDA that has helped shape him into the confident and determined driver he is now - aged just 17-years-old.
 
“I've had the lowest point I could possibly have already, even at 17, because losing and struggling in every karting race to winning a championship is a big difference,” Wharton said.
 
“Now nothing affects me mentally at all. No matter what happens in a race, it's still not as bad as finishing last in karting. I feel completely fine with anything that happens.
 
“A lot can change in 12 months, especially in the last three months. I have really found my feet in the FDA and feel like I deserve to be there.
 
“There's no longer an emotional rollercoaster for me. If I win, it's the same as if I lose now because I know that being in the FDA is the best thing that can happen to my career, so I'm happy no matter what happens anymore.
 
“Coming home to Australia makes me realise how honoured I am to be in the position I am in - even though I know I worked hard to get it.
 
“It's so good to have backing from the FDA too and I now know that I'm one of their main drivers and one that will succeed.”


As for where his future stands, Wharton will complete his second season in the Italian F4 Championship before deciding where he will race in 2024.
 
While exact plans for next year’s campaign have yet to be decided, Wharton was confident it will be a positive transitional year regardless, as he targets a FIA Formula 3 Championship seat with Prema Racing in 2025.
 
“I'm not going too fast and I don’t rush into F3, because, if I'm not comfortable in the first year of F3, it will be difficult,” Wharton explained.
 
“We are looking into the possibility of racing in the Formula Regional European Championship grid next year to give myself the best opportunity for a F3 Prema seat in 2025.
 
“Then I want to try and progress through Formula 3 as quickly as possible. If it’s two years, it’s two years, however performing in my first year is the ideal situation, even if it is the hardest.
 
“Then once I do that, I can set my next goals, but for now, it’s just about getting myself to the right position and as comfortable as possible for F3 in 2025.
 
“Right now, I feel like I'm meant to be a European driver and not driving in Australia, so I'm fully committed to reaching that goal.”