PREMA is delighted to announce that Australian driver James Wharton will join the team's Formula 4 ranks for the 2022 season. After a successful career start in Australia, the 15-year-old racer moved to the European Karting scene in late 2016, showing promise in the OKJ and OK classes. He complemented his program with positive forays in the USA, including wins in the 2018 and 2019 SKUSA Supernationals.

In 2020, he was selected by Ferrari Driver Academy partner Motorsport Australia to take part in the FDA Scouting World Finals, winning the shootout and joining Ferrari's young driver ranks. In 2021, he continued to race at the highest level of karting while preparing for his 2022 debut.

Wharton will enter the full Italian Formula 4 Championship next year. Additional support events will be announced for him at a later date. Meanwhile, he began his testing and preparation schedule for his rookie season in single-seaters.

Angelo Rosin - Team Principal

"We were really impressed by Wharton's attitude. We have already had the chance to see him in action in testing and we are confident that he will be quick right from the start. There will be a lot of new things to learn for him, and we want to support him the very best way we can. We are looking forward to his debut in 2022.”

James Wharton

"Obviously I am beyond excited for the 2022 season. Traditionally Prema has a strong alliance with Ferrari so the decision for us was straight forward. I feel I am ready to attack next year and utilise everything I have been developing as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.