Exclusive: Prema Racing's Louis Sharp on Chasing F1 Dreams, Overcoming Injury, and the Harsh Financial Realities of F3

New Zealand’s rising motorsport sensation, Louis Sharp, is a young man in a hurry—both on and off the track. Currently competing in the highly competitive FIA Formula 3 championship with Prema Racing, the 19-year-old is navigating one of the most critical junctures of his fledgling career.

Junior single-seater racing is a notoriously unforgiving arena where raw talent must be matched by equally formidable financial backing. Following a stellar performance at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Sharp is looking to capitalize on his momentum as the paddock heads to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps. However, the pressure isn't just about nailing braking zones and tire management; it’s about securing the vital funding required to step up to Formula 2 next season.

Speaking exclusively to Press Box PR about the dual demands of being an elite athlete and a relentless fundraiser, Sharp opens up about his journey. From recovering from a painful triple-vertebrae injury earlier this year to cutting costs by managing his own rigorous physical training regime, the Kiwi driver exemplifies grit. Unfazed by competitors with bottomless budgets, Sharp remains unshakeably confident in his ultimate destination: Formula 1.

Read the full interview below:

‍

Q&A: In Conversation with Louis Sharp

‍

Q. Right, let's look back at Silverstone. Wasn't it your best qualifying result in Formula 3, and qualifying hasn't been easy this season for the team, has it? 

‍

LS: “No, definitely not. I think we've shown really strong race pace throughout the whole of this year, but qualifying has definitely been our kryptonite, or our area to improve. So, this was definitely the biggest focus heading into Silverstone. As I said, we've shown really good race pace, and we've always raced well, but when you're racing from further down the order, it's quite difficult to do anything with it. Qualifying was definitely the goal.

‍

“The team delivered a really good package at Silverstone. The car was in a better window, and as a team, we learned some things. The last few rounds especially, we've been really unlucky with just small little details going wrong in qualifying, which hurt our potential or didn't quite show the performance that we've had. But we learned some things heading into Silverstone; we did a really good job, and we were able to maximise things. It was a really good turnaround for myself and for the team.”

‍

Q. Was there one thing in particular that made a difference, or was it just a combination of elements coming together? A combination really.

‍

LS: “We got a bit of a smoother session. The last few qualifying sessions, at Monaco, Barcelona and the Red Bull Ring, we just had little details go wrong.

‍

“In F3, a little detail can cost you five, six, seven, or even eight positions. I don't think there was anything in particular; the car was in a good window, which helped, but we just had a bit more of a seamless session.”

‍

Q. You finished 8th in the Sprint, and in the main race it was going well. After adjustments for penalties, you ended up P4. You must be pleased with that?

‍

LS: “Yep. We were in the fight for the win. I think we had the speed to win. I was doing a good job early on, just sitting behind the leaders and managing my tyres while the front three were pushing quite hard. I was just chilling in fourth position. With about ten laps to go, our pace was really strong, and the front three started to drop off.

‍

“I was going to use this opportunity to start pushing, which is what I did. I went for a move on P3 and was involved in a bit of a skirmish with Theophile Nael, who forced me wide. The battle with him ended up costing me a lot of momentum, and I dropped down a few positions. That was a bit of a shame. I definitely think we would have been on the podium, but we 100% would have been in the fight for the win. It’s a shame, but it's nice that the potential is there. We weren't quite able to capitalise this time, but at least the pace is there.”

‍

Q. How exciting is it when you are going for P3? Does the adrenaline flow when you think, 'this is my chance'? 

‍

LS: “Definitely. When you're in a wheel-to-wheel battle, regardless of your position, you feel those things. But especially when you're thinking, 'I've got a shot at a podium or a win here.' It definitely gives you an extra boost. It's a pretty cool feeling and one I want to reproduce more often this season.”

‍

Q. Silverstone is a track you love, and it's great for proper racing, isn't it? 

‍

LS: “It is one of my favourites. It is the circuit on the calendar I know the most. It's fantastic for racing and qualifying. Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, Chapel, they are the coolest corners in motorsport. It's fantastic and a lot of fun.”

‍

Q. Did you have mixed emotions coming away with a 'what if', or was it pure excitement that things are finally coming together? 

‍

LS: “There definitely were mixed emotions. On one side, I was happy that the pace and package were there for me to deliver. But on the other hand, I felt we didn't really show everything we could have. The potential was there to win, and we weren't able to make that happen, so I was a little upset. Happy that the package is there but definitely left wanting more.”

‍

Q. You’ve got Spa next. That's another speedster's track, isn't it? 

‍

LS: “Exactly. I think Silverstone and Spa are probably two of the coolest tracks in the world; so to be able to do them back-to-back is going to be pretty exciting. I think there could be a little bit of rain forecast as well, which is always fun. I like driving in the wet, so I wouldn't mind some rain actually! I'm really looking forward to Spa; it's a fantastic circuit and produces some great overtaking.”

‍

Q. How do you and Prema build on the momentum from Silverstone? 

‍

LS: “The biggest thing is to use the confidence, but obviously not be overconfident. You don't want to assume we're automatically going to do the job. We need to use the momentum, keep working hard, and keep focusing on our individual run plans.

‍

“Especially in qualifying, I just need to be focused on myself and build the session as it comes. I can’t go out there trying to manufacture anything or ask for too much; I just need to let it happen naturally.

‍

“We need to take what we learned at Silverstone and apply it to Spa. Spa is a very different circuit—very low downforce, long straights, heavy braking, and a mix of high-speed and slow-speed corners. It’s a track that demands a lot, and it's hard to dial everything in perfectly.

‍

“Qualifying will be difficult because everyone is going to be looking for a tow, so it's easy to trip over other people and get messy. It's just about keeping it clean and doing my job.

‍

“Off the track is busy for you too. We’ve spoken before about the need to be front and centre to engage sponsors and sell your dream. How do you separate that from the need to be fully focused on racing? You have to be very disciplined. It can be difficult, especially when trying to raise a budget to complete this season and sort out plans for next year. This time of year is when everyone starts signing for next season. It can be hard to separate the two.

‍

“But the reality is, when you're at a race weekend, there's not much you can be doing to raise money anyway. You just need to be fully focused on doing the job, which is easier said than done. You need to use your time away from the track to speak to sponsors and investors. As soon as I'm in the truck or my helmet's on, I need to be fully focused.”

‍

Q. Is there optimism on the fundraising front? 

‍

LS: “There is optimism. There's still a lot left to complete, but I am optimistic and believe we'll make it happen. Having a couple of good weekends in these next few weeks will definitely make a difference. Spa this weekend and Budapest the following need to be two really strong weekends so we can use those results to help with things. Silverstone helped a little bit, but we need to be fighting for more.”

‍

Q. Is there a cut-off point where you need to know the money is coming so you can plan for next year? 

‍

LS: “There is definitely a cut-off point. Exactly what that date is, I don't know.

‍

“Realistically, in the next month or two, we need to have everything set in place. If you look at the Formula 2 grid for next year, probably half the drivers are already signed up, and the ones that aren't are deep in discussions. These next few weeks are crucial to get results and external funding.”

‍

Q. Describe a typical training week when you're getting ready for a race. What does it look like? 

‍

LS: “It varies depending on the week. At the moment, it's not very common that I'll have a whole week at home. But in an ideal scenario where I am home seven days a week, I'll train six of those days. That consists of a gym session and a cardio session every day. I'll do a different focus in the gym and then either go out on the bike or out running.

‍

“I do it all myself now. I used to work with a trainer, but that’s an extra expense. I'm quite switched on and very disciplined; I don't let myself have it easy at all. I prioritise training heavily. I also spend a lot of time on the simulator at home, and I head out to Italy quite often to spend time with the engineers on the team simulator. In motorsport, you can't just go out and drive the cars whenever you want, so these other small things make the difference.”

‍

Q. You damaged three vertebrae earlier in the year. Has that affected your driving, or has it all cleared up now? 

‍

LS: “It’s definitely all cleared up now, but at the time it impeded me. It stopped me from being able to do any driving during the break we had. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have been able to afford much additional testing anyway, but all my competitors were out driving while I had to rest up.

‍

“Motorsport is a lot about momentum, so it hurt that we didn't start the season the way we should have. But now I'm fully recovered, the momentum is coming back, and the team and I are working well together again.”

‍

Q. Tell me something about yourself that people might not know. 

‍

LS: “My life away from motorsport is very sports-oriented. I played a lot of rugby growing up, and my first dream was to be an All Black before I got into racing! I also play a lot of golf, and I used to do a lot of skiing and mountain biking. Anything sports-related, I love it. I do a lot of cycling and running now. Sports kind of control my life.”

‍

Q. Speaking of rugby, we had the Rugby Championship recently. Cam Roigard—if he's not challenging Antoine Dupont for the best number 9 in the world soon, where has he come from? 

‍

LS: “He’s my favourite player at the moment! I was a halfback myself like Cam, so I love watching him. He’s a fantastic player and has definitely proven that over the last couple of seasons. He is looking like a big threat and definitely could be challenging Dupont as the best 9 in the world.”

‍

Q. You obviously keep an eye on the All Blacks' results? 

‍

LS: “Definitely. I watch all the games. I don't always get the chance to watch them live, but I'll watch the highlights. I missed the France game because I was racing, but I watched the Italy game live.”

‍

Q. The big one coming up is the four-test series against South Africa. That’s something you’ll definitely be watching?

‍

LS: “Definitely. I think it'll be a very good test for us before next year. It’ll be tough; South Africa is probably the best side in the world right now.”

‍

Q. As you grew up, which drivers did you admire for their racing style and approach? 

‍

LS: “All-time, the one that first comes to mind is Ayrton Senna. I never had the pleasure of watching him drive live, but going back and watching the old races, Senna is my biggest inspiration. My dog is even called Senna!

‍

“More recently, Sebastian Vettel was someone I looked up to when I first started go-karting as a six-year-old. He was dominating F1 in the Red Bull at the time. I actually had the pleasure of racing against Seb in the Race of Champions at the start of 2025, which was a dream come true.

‍

“Then there are the Kiwi guys: Liam Lawson is someone I look up to who is only a couple of years ahead of me. And then you have the legends like Scott Dixon, Nick Cassidy, Mitch Evans, and Brendon Hartley. I definitely look up to a lot of them.”

‍

Q. Do you look at Formula 1 and think, 'that could be me one day'? 

‍

LS: “100%. If I didn't truly believe I was good enough, I wouldn't be wasting people's time or investment. Hand on heart, I absolutely think I have what it takes. I appreciate how difficult it is to make it happen financially, but I do see myself in Formula 1, and I believe I have what it takes to fight for a World Championship.”

‍

Q. What would you deem a success this season, and how would you define it for 2026? 

‍

LS: “This season has been a weird one, especially with my injury and the UAE rounds getting cancelled. To be completely honest, we probably don't have the package to be fighting consistently for race wins every weekend right now.

‍

“Success for me would just be maximising the potential the car has every week. Some weeks that might be third, some weeks it might be fifth or sixth. If I can consistently be in the top ten, score good points, get podiums, and maybe a couple of wins here and there while maximising my part, that’s a success.”

‍

Q. Being in the shop window is so vital so people notice you. What you have had to go through is remarkable, but what doesn't break you makes you?

‍

LS: “Exactly. I keep thinking to myself that I've probably had it very difficult compared to a lot of people. But when it does work out, I'm going to be so much better for it, and I'll appreciate it much more because I've had to work that much harder for it.”

‍

Q. What would your broad message be to potential investors who might want to support someone like you? 

‍

LS: “The journey I'm on is exciting. With my current investors, I really try to make us all feel like one big family. They ride the highs and lows with me every step of the way.

‍

“I 100% believe I have what it takes to get to the top. I've had it difficult compared to most, but that disadvantage is also my biggest strength because it’s made me fight for everything. That fight is something a lot of guys from super wealthy backgrounds won't have, and when my time comes, that fight is what's going to make the difference.

‍

“For anyone interested, I want to bring you in on this journey and make it very rewarding for you, both commercially and personally, so when I do make it, we can share that immense pride together.”

‍