Louis Sharp

Sharp was born in Nottingham, United Kingdom, living in Newark for his first few early years{{Cite web |date=11 October 2023 |title=Young talent clinches Formula 4 Championship title |url=https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/sport/young-talent-clinches-formula-4-championship-title-9334479/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Newark Advertiser |language=en}} but spent most of his childhood in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he attended St Bede's College.{{Cite web |last=Alvey |first=Daniel |date=6 October 2023 |title=Teenager F4 driver revs up for race of his life |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-sport/teenager-f4-driver-revs-race-his-life |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}} He later moved back to the UK to compete in the F4 British Championship.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Damien |date=28 September 2023 |title=The next Liam Lawson? The Kiwi dominating F4 with F1 aspirations |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/the-next-liam-lawson-the-kiwi-dominating-f4-with-f1-aspirations/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Motor Sport Magazine |language=en-GB}}

After happening across a local karting track, Sharp's interest was piqued{{Cite web | url=https://motorsportplus.co/louis-sharp-a-young-man-in-a-hurry/ | title=Louis Sharp - a young man in a hurry | website=motorsportplus.co | date=25 January 2023 | access-date=19 November 2023}} and he started karting at age six{{Cite web | url=https://motorsport.org.nz/louis-sharp-to-contest-nz-formula-first-series/ | title=Louis Sharp to contest NZ Formula First Series | website=motorsport.org.nz | date=1 September 2020 | access-date=19 November 2023}} in 2014, driving in the Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship. He finished 18th in the Cadet class, the next year he finished third in the same class, and two years later he won the championship in the same class, along with the Sievwright Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship, in the Cadet class. In 2018, he finished as runner up in the Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship in the Mini ROK class and the following year he won the championship.{{Cite web |last=Carrell |first=Benjamin |date=6 March 2020 |title=One to watch in the future |url=https://talkmotorsport.co.nz/nzcircuit/one-to-watch-on-the-future/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Talk Motorsport |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Supplied |date=3 October 2019 |title=Kiwi karting champion, age 12, makes European debut |url=https://talkmotorsport.co.nz/international/kiwi-karting-champion-age-12-makes-european-debut/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Talk Motorsport |language=en-US}}

These results caught the attention of David Dicker, founder of the New Zealand based racing car manufacturer Rodin Cars. Dicker, through Rodin, continue to back Sharp through his formula racing career.

Sharp stepped up into single-seater racing in 2020, making his debut in the Formula First Manfeild Winter Series. He won one race and achieved six podiums, finishing the championship in fifth with 375 points.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jordie |date=2 August 2020 |title=Louis Sharp wins first race in the same car as Liam Lawson |url=https://talkmotorsport.co.nz/singleseater/louis-sharp-wins-first-race-in-the-same-car-as-liam-lawson/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Talk Motorsport |language=en-US}} He also completed in the New Zealand Formula First Championship for Track Tec Racing, finishing the championship in fifth and ending his campaign with one podium.{{Cite web |last=Supplied |date=1 September 2020 |title=Louis Sharp to contest NZ Formula First Series |url=https://talkmotorsport.co.nz/singleseater/louis-sharp-to-contest-nz-formula-first-series/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Talk Motorsport |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Carrell |first=Benjamin |date=21 April 2021 |title=Podium for Sharp at NZ Formula First Championship finale |url=https://talkmotorsport.co.nz/singleseater/podium-for-sharp-at-nz-formula-first-championship-finale/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Talk Motorsport |language=en-US}}

The following year, Sharp drove in the Yokohama South Island Formula Ford Series, getting five wins, ten podiums and two pole positions. finishing fifth in the championship. Sharp was leading the championship before being called up by Carlin to compete in British F4.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=8 December 2022 |title=Louis Sharp continues with Carlin for a second year in British F4 |url=https://formulascout.com/louis-sharp-continues-with-carlin-for-a-second-year-in-british-f4/101713 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

Sharp made another step up to the 2022 F4 British Championship with Carlin, partnering McLaren Junior Driver Ugo Ugochukwu and Williams Junior Driver Oliver Gray.{{Cite web|url=https://formulascout.com/carlin-adds-ff1600-racer-louis-sharp-to-british-f4-line-up/90443|title=Carlin adds FF1600 racer Louis Sharp to British F4 line-up – Formula Scout|date=8 March 2022 }} Sharp did not participate in the first round of the season at Donington Park due to still being 14 years old,{{Cite web | url=https://fiaformula4.com/drivers/louis-sharp/ | title=F4 driver profile Louis Sharp | website=fiaformula4.com | date=December 2023 | access-date=29 August 2020| archive-url=https://archive.today/20240919034651/https://fiaformula4.com/drivers/louis-sharp/ | archive-date=19 September 2024 |url-status=live}} with the age limit of most Formula 4 series being set at 15. In his first two rounds he got two podiums; third place in the third race at both Brands Hatch and Thruxton Circuit. He got podiums in all three races at Round 4, Oulton Park, taking his first win in the series in the third race.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-06-12 |url=https://formulascout.com/kiwi-youngster-louis-sharp-wins-in-british-f4-at-oulton-park/94970|title=Kiwi youngster Louis Sharp wins in British F4 at Oulton Park |website=Formula Scout}} At the fifth round at Croft Circuit he came second place in the third race, bagging another podium for his Formula 4 campaign. He was on a consistent points streak in Knockhill and Snetterton until making contact with Aiden Neate during the third race at Snetterton, while fighting for a top ten position.{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethanie |date=14 August 2022 |url=https://formulascout.com/dunne-wins-with-faultless-snetterton-drive/97511|title=Dunne wins with faultless Snetterton drive |website=Formula Scout}}

Sharp added two more third places to his podium tally in the first and third races at Thruxton. In Silverstone Sharp got his second win of the season in the first race, after the original race winner Oliver Gray was penalised. Sharp came third in the reverse-grid race, but stalled on the grid and consequently retired from the third race.{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethanie |date=25 September 2022 |url=https://formulascout.com/gray-wins-safety-car-disrupted-third-british-f4-race-at-silverstone/99088|title=Gray wins safety car-disrupted third British F4 race at Silverstone |website=Formula Scout}}

The first race in the final round at Brands Hatch did not go well for Sharp, as while he was battling his teammate Ugo Ugochukwu for 4th position his car began to smoke and the Kiwi was forced to jump out of the car before it caught fire.{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethanie |date=8 October 2022 |url=https://formulascout.com/loake-wins-brands-hatch-opener-dunne-crowned-british-f4-champion/99507|title=Loake wins Brands Hatch opener, Dunne crowned British F4 champion |website=Formula Scout}} He had more luck during the rest of the round, coming 3rd and 2nd in the final races of the season. He finished 4th in the championship, behind his teammates, Ugochukwu and Gray despite not competing in the first round, narrowly pipping Joseph Loake to 4th in the championship standings with 272 points, just one point ahead of Loake.

Sharp made his debut in the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship for the Trophy Rounds only, which took place in late 2022 and served as a support race for the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sharp drove with Carlin and won both races in an 11 car grid.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=20 November 2022 |url=https://formulascout.com/carlins-louis-sharp-wins-the-f4-support-races-at-the-abu-dhabi-gp/101083|title=Carlin's Louis Sharp wins the F4 support races at the Abu Dhabi GP |website=Formula Scout}}{{Cite web |last=Brabner |first=George |date=9 December 2022 |title=Sharp ends 2022 with F4 UAE Trophy Race sweep: 'It couldn't have gone much better' |url=https://feederseries.net/2022/12/09/sharp-ends-2022-with-f4-uae-trophy-race-sweep-it-couldnt-have-gone-much-better/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Feeder Series |language=en}}

He returned to the F4 British Championship in 2023, rejoining the newly rebranded Rodin Carlin team in hopes of winning the title, and was teammates with Australian Noah Lisle and Brit Josh Irfan.{{cite press release |date=2022-12-08 | url=https://www.rodinmotorsport.com/news/sharp-remains-with-carlin-for-2023-f4-british-championship-assault | title=Sharp remains with Carlin for 2023 F4 British Championship assault |website=Rodin Motorsport}} Sharp started the season by taking victory in the first two races in the opening round at Donington Park.{{Cite web |last=Rickert |first=Andrew |date=23 April 2023 |title=Louis Sharp wins British Formula 4 season opener |url=https://raceweek.com.au/news/2023/4/23/louis-sharp-wins-british-formula-4-season-opener |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=RACEWEEK |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=23 April 2023 |title=Sharp comes from back of reversed grid to win again in British F4 |url=https://formulascout.com/sharp-comes-from-back-of-reversed-grid-to-win-again-in-british-f4/106079 |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} After a season-long fight with William Macintyre, in which he took four more wins, he eventually became British F4 Champion.{{Cite web |last=McNamara |first=Rebecca |date=9 October 2023 |title=Louis Sharp emulates Lando Norris to win F4 title |url=https://www.motorsportuk.org/louis-sharp-emulates-lando-norris-to-win-f4-title/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Motorsport UK |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Jordie |date=8 October 2023 |title=Louis Sharp crowned British F4 champion at Brands Hatch |url=https://motorsport.org.nz/louis-sharp-crowned-british-f4-champion-at-brands-hatch/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=motorsport.org.nz |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last=Mackley |first=Stefan |date=8 October 2023 |title=Sharp edges Macintyre to secure British F4 title |url=https://www.autosport.com/national/news/sharp-edges-macintyre-to-secure-british-f4-title/10530708/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=www.autosport.com |language=en}} As the British F4 Champion Sharp also won an experience in the Simulator of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.{{Cite press release |date=17 October 2023 |title=Louis Sharp takes advantage of Mercedes F1 sim experience |url=https://talkmotorsport.co.nz/singleseater/louis-sharp-takes-advantage-of-mercedes-f1-sim-experience/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Talk Motorsport |language=en-US}}

Motorsport News voted Sharp as (British) National Racing Driver of the Year for 2023, becoming the youngest ever driver to win the award, the first from outside Europe and the first single seater winner. He was also awarded the Henry Surtees Award, an accolade handed out by the British Racing Drivers' Club for the most outstanding performance by a member of the BRDC Rising Stars initiative.{{Cite web |last=Kermeen |first=Mat |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350164485/teenage-star-louis-sharp-following-liam-lawson-and-rodin-track-f1 |title=Teenage star Louis Sharp following the Liam Lawson and Rodin track to F1 |website=Stuff |date=10 February 2024 |access-date=19 November 2023}}{{Cite web | url=https://motorsport.org.nz/louis-sharp-voted-motorsport-news-national-racing-driver-of-the-year/ | title=Louis Sharp voted Motorsport News National Racing Driver of the Year | website=motorsport.org.nz | date=30 November 2023 | access-date=19 November 2023}}{{Cite web | url=https://motorsport.org.nz/louis-sharp-presented-with-the-henry-surtees-award/ | title=Louis Sharp presented with the Henry Surtees Award | website=motorsport.org.nz | date=7 December 2023 | access-date=19 November 2023}}

He was announced to drive for Kiwi-team Rodin Motorsport for the 2024 GB3 Championship,{{Cite web | url=https://motorsport.org.nz/louis-sharp-takes-another-step-towards-formula-1-dream/ | title=Louis Sharp takes another step towards Formula 1 dream | website=motorsport.org.nz | date=23 January 2024 | access-date=19 November 2023}} which was the main sponsor of Rodin Carlin and had taken over the team in early 2024.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=19 January 2024 |title=British F4 champion Louis Sharp steps up to GB3 with Rodin Motorsport |url=https://formulascout.com/british-f4-champion-louis-sharp-steps-up-to-gb3-with-rodin-motorsport/115036 |access-date=19 January 2024 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=9 January 2024 |title=Carlin rebrands to Rodin Motorsport as it loses its co-founder |url=https://formulascout.com/carlin-rebrands-to-rodin-motorsport-as-it-loses-its-co-founder/114778 |access-date=23 January 2024 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} Sharp started his campaign with a pole position at the first race of the first round at Oulton Park, he converted his maiden pole to a maiden win and got his second pole position in the next race, finishing that race in second place.{{cite web |date=2024-03-30 |title=GB3 Qualifying: Sharp scythes to pole at Oulton Park |url=https://www.gb-3.net/news/2024/mar/30/oulton-park-qualifying-report |website=GB3}}{{cite web |date=2024-03-30 |title=GB3 Race 1: Sharp straight to the point with victory in Oulton Park opener |url=https://www.gb-3.net/news/2024/mar/30/oulton-park-race-one-report |website=GB3}}{{cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=Race two starts at 09.30 – Sharp on pole |url=https://www.gb-3.net/news/2024/apr/1/race-two-starts-at-0930-sharp-on-pole |website=GB3}}

Following two podiums at Spa-Francorchamps, he achieved his second win of the season at the Hungaroring and claimed two more podiums at Silverstone. Sharp got two more pole positions at the penultimate round in Donington Park which he converted to wins. He led the championship coming into the final round at Brands Hatch, with his closest rivals being Briton John Bennett and Pole Tymek Kucharczyk. He got pole in the second race and won it, and in the final race of the season he finished in 10th place, winning the championship with 478 points.

Sharp joined Rodin Carlin for the final post-season test of the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship at Imola.{{Cite web |title=Formula 3 concludes 2023 campaign with post-season testing in Imola |url=https://www.fiaformula3.com/Latest/4npb8BUfCGhyK5DPd22HNc/formula-3-concludes-2023-campaign-with-post-season-testing-in-imola |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=fiaformula3.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Allen |first= Peter |date=22 October 2023 |title=F4 champions Sztuka and Sharp join final post-season F3 test |url=https://formulascout.com/f4-champions-sztuka-and-sharp-join-final-post-season-f3-test/112590 |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

Shortly after clinching the GB3 title, Sharp was announced to be promoted to FIA Formula 3 for the 2025 season, continuing with Rodin Motorsport.{{Cite web|title=Rodin Motorsport confirm Louis Sharp as first signing for the 2025 season|date=4 October 2024|url=https://www.fiaformula3.com/Latest/19lNZJ83ypc3lJc1NUU7Wp/rodin-motorsport-confirm-louis-sharp-as-first-signing-for-the-2025-season|access-date=4 October 2024|website=FIA_Formula 3® - The Official F3® Website|language=en}}

^* Season still in progress.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

| style="background:#;" |DON
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" |DON
3
{{small|}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |BHI
1
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |BHI
2
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |BHI
3
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |THR1
1
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |THR1
2
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |THR1
3
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |OUL
1
{{small|2}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |OUL
2
{{small|2⁵}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |OUL
3
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |CRO
1
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |CRO
2
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |CRO
3
{{small|2}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |KNO
1
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |KNO
2
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |KNO
3
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |SNE
1
{{small|7}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |SNE
2
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |SNE
3
{{small|17}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |THR2
1
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |THR2
2
{{small|7¹}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |THR2
3
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |SIL
1
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |SIL
2
{{small|3³}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |SIL
3
{{small|Ret}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |BHGP
1
{{small|Ret}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |BHGP
2
{{small|3¹}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |BHGP
3
{{small|2}}

|

! 4th

! 272

|-

| 2023

!nowrap| Rodin Carlin

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |DPN
1
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |DPN
2
{{small|1¹⁰}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |DPN
3
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |BHI
1
{{small|Ret}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |BHI
2
{{small|4³}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |BHI
3
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#;" |SNE
1
{{small|C}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |SNE
2
{{small|13⁶}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |SNE
3
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |THR
1
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |THR
2
{{small|12⁷}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |THR
3
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |OUL
1
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |OUL
2
{{small|19}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |OUL
3
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |SIL
1
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |SIL
2
{{small|3⁷}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |SIL
3
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |CRO
1
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |CRO
2
{{small|16³}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |CRO
3
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |KNO
1
{{small|2}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |KNO
2
{{small|15¹}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |KNO
3
{{small|7}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |DPGP
1
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |DPGP
2
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |DPGP
3
{{small|6¹⁰}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" |DPGP
4
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |BHGP
1
{{small|1}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |BHGP
2
{{small|11⁸}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |BHGP
3
{{small|2}}

! style="background:#FFFFBF"| 1st

! style="background:#FFFFBF"| 384

|}

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

| style="background:#;"| RBR
FEA
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| SIL
SPR
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| SIL
FEA
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| SPA
SPR
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| SPA
FEA
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| HUN
SPR
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| HUN
FEA
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| MNZ
SPR
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| MNZ
FEA
{{small|}}

! 19th*

! 11*

|}

* Season still in progress.

• {{DriverDB driver|id=louis-sharp}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-sports}}

{{succession box

| title = F4 British Championship
Champion

| before = Alex Dunne

| after = Deagen Fairclough

| years = 2023

}}

{{Succession box

| title = GB3 Championship
Champion

| years = 2024

| before = Callum Voisin

| after = Incumbent

}}

{{s-end}}

{{FIA Formula 3 Championship teams}}

{{Carlin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Louis}}

{{Authority control|qid=Q112262887}}

Category:2007 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand racing drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Christchurch

Category:British F4 Championship drivers

Category:UAE F4 Championship drivers

Category:Carlin racing drivers

Category:People educated at St Bede's College, Christchurch

Category:Racing drivers from Nottingham

Category:Rodin Motorsport drivers

Category:FIA Formula 3 Championship drivers

Category:BRDC British Formula 3 Championship drivers

Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen