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James Wharton (racing driver)

James Anthony Wharton (born 8 July 2006) is an Australian racing driver who most recently competed in the Italian F4 Championship with Prema Racing. He was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy between 2021 and 2023.

Career

Karting

Born in Bundoora in 2006, Wharton began karting at the age of eight in his homeland of Australia. Following two years in Mini and Cadet karting he won eight out of ten races in his 2017 season, winning the Australian Championship in the process. Following that him and his father moved to Europe to progress his career, where he spent four years contracted to Parolin, competing in various continental championships.

Formula 4

2022

Starting his single-seater at the beginning of 2022, Wharton would compete in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with Abu Dhabi Racing, a team operated by Prema Racing. The Australian dominated the first Dubai event, scoring three victories, and won the season-ending race at Yas Marina, taking home fifth in the standings.

He remained with Prema for the European racing season, driving in the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 championships. Just like during the winter, Wharton ended up fifth in both series, having obtained his only victory at the Nürburgring.

2023

Wharton once again partook in F4 UAE at the beginning of 2023, being part of the Mumbai Falcons. After a consistent campaign, which included four wins and a total of eleven podiums across 15 races, the Australian clinched the title as a result of a last-round collision with title rival and teammate Tuukka Taponen.

His European campaign with Prema in the Italian F4 Championship proved to be more challenging, as Wharton would end the year fourth in the standings despite a pair of wins at Spa-Francorchamps. He also ended up finishing second in the three-round Euro 4 Championship with two wins and three further podiums, missing out on the title to teammate Ugo Ugochukwu.

Formula Regional

For 2024, Wharton moved up to the Formula Regional European Championship, once again driving for Prema.

Formula One

At the end of 2020 Wharton was chosen by Motorsport Australia to be one of its representatives for the FDA 2020 Scouting World Finals. He ended up winning the shootout, therefore gaining a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

In December 2023, it was announced that Wharton would be leaving the FDA going into the 2024 season.