Fionn McLaughlin: From gaming after school to F1 weekends

When Fionn McLaughlin finished school, he would run straight up to his bedroom and start driving on the Formula 1 games.

Now, two years on, he is getting ready to race on Grand Prix weekends for real in Formula 3, which supports Formula 1 for 10 events.

It has been a sharp rise for the 18-year-old, who was racing in karts until he was picked up by Red Bull Racing’s junior programme in August 2024 and is now racing alongside some of the sport’s biggest names.

Last year, in his first season of racing in cars, he dominated the British F4 championship and will now make the step up to Formula 3.

“It’s crazy how life can change,” McLaughlin told BBC Sport NI.

“I gamed a lot after school, that’s all I really did so I know all the tracks off by heart in my head.

“Obviously not in the F3 car, but I know them. So that’s the good thing about gaming when you’re younger, it helps.”

In the space of 18 months, McLaughlin’s life has changed as he gets ready to embark of the biggest season of his short career.

In his words, “just never give up”.

“The way it changes quickly is just unbelievable. When I was in go-karting I was driving around, never thinking I would be in cars.

“Obviously that was the goal, but now being in F3 so quickly it’s like ‘wow, it can really go quick’.

“You just have to enjoy every moment, take it all in and work as hard as you can. I feel like life moves quick so make the most of it.”