Louis Sharp's spent the past two years in the fast lane. The 17-year-old will drive for Rodin Motorsport in the 2025 Formula 3 season — stepping onto the grid after winning the British Formula 4 and then the GB3 Championship, the UK's premiere single seater motorsport series.
"It does feel surreal to be fair. I'm very happy to have made this progress. Some of it has come as a surprise but it's a sign of the stuff I do off-track," the teen told 1News.
The hugely motivated teen's wanted to be a race car driver since he was five.
"I don't come from an motorsport family. My dad was a rugby player. We were driving back from a rugby game one day and we drove by a race car track and I said to dad 'this is really cool, can we stop and have a look?'. And from the first time I drove that go kart, I said to him 'look, this is what I want to do. I really enjoy this'," Sharp said.
Twelve years later and that hasn't changed.
"Being a Formula 1 World Champion — that's my dream, that is my goal. And the thought of being on that grid and winning that Formula 1 title, that is more than enough motivation for me."
Sharp moved to the UK when he was 14 with his father Jason in order to chase that goal. He's quit school and if he's not on the track, he spends his time on the simulator, at the gym or on his bike.
"My mum and my sister, them being back in New Zealand is tough. All my friends are back home. It's a big adjustment and a huge sacrifice. Not only for me, but my dad's had to move with me. He's sacrificed his job."
Sharp will at least be a little closer to his family in March when the Formula 3 season kicks off in Melbourne.
He'll be a rookie though, on new tracks, in a new car.
"F3 is a very competitive championship. I'd love to be at the front from the start. I'm confident in myself that I can do that. My goal is to just go in and fight for the front, fight for race wins."
He'll also have friend and Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson by his side. The F1 season also begins in Melbourne on the same weekend.
The pair used to share the same trainer and Sharp said Lawon's offered him plenty of advice.
"I'm close to him which is nice to have. It's good to train with him too so I can see the level I need to get to make it to Formula 1. I'll try to close the gap as fast as possible. Try to catch up with him and hopefully in a couple of years, I can join him on the Formula 1 grid."
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