Surprise news came from the Prema Racing camp ahead of the final rounds of the 2026 Formula 3 season. The Veneto-based team officially announced the departure of Louis Sharp with just two rounds remaining. As a replacement, Prema immediately appointed Alex Powell, a driver who is no stranger to the team, having helped them secure the 2024 Italian Formula 4 title.
The decision was announced during the summer break, while the Formula 1 support series are still on pause before returning at Monza on the first weekend of September. Louis Sharp, a 19-year-old from New Zealand, chose to end his partnership with the team based in Grisignano di Zocco after a challenging season. His best result this year was a fourth-place finish in the Feature Race at Silverstone, a far cry from the expected targets.
Prema management, represented by team principal and CEO Stephen Mitas, paid high tribute to Sharp despite the early end to their relationship. Mitas described Sharp as an extraordinary talent who was consistently fast, both in qualifying and in pure speed. “We understand and support his decision to focus on 2027, and we look forward to following his progress,” he said. As of now, Sharp has not confirmed which team he will join next season, leaving his future as one of the paddock's biggest question marks.
It didn't take long for Prema to find the right replacement. Just hours after the announcement of Sharp's departure, the Italian team confirmed that Alex Powell would fill the vacant seat for the final two rounds at Monza and Madrid. Powell, a 19-year-old with American and Jamaican nationality, is a former Mercedes Junior Team member who already proved his worth with Prema in Italian F4. This season he competed in Eurocup-3 before being recalled by Prema.
Stephen Mitas welcomed Powell back warmly. “We are happy to welcome Alex back to Prema. He is a driver we know well, and he has already shown what he is capable of in F4. His speed, race management, and spirit make him a strong contender for the final part of the season,” Mitas said. Powell also expressed his excitement. “Coming back to Prema means a lot to me. This team gave me my first opportunity to race in single-seaters. Returning with them for the final part of the 2026 F3 season is a great opportunity to show what I can do. I can't wait to get in the car. I'll give everything,” he said enthusiastically.
With this decision, Prema hopes to end the season on a positive note. Monza, known as the “Temple of Speed”, will be a crucial moment for Powell to adapt quickly to the F3 car. Meanwhile, the tight competition at the top of the standings makes these final two rounds even more intriguing. Can Powell be competitive right away? We'll have to wait and see.
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