# Fionn McLaughlin
**Fionn McLaughlin** (born 2007) is an Irish racing driver from Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, who races for Hitech TGR in the [FIA Formula 3 Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/fia-formula-3-championship) as a member of the [Red Bull Junior Team](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-bull-junior-team). He won the [2025 F4 British Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/2025-f4-british-championship) in his first season of car racing.[1](https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) • [2](https://f1pedia.com/en/f3/encyclopedia/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) • [3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2007, Magherafelt, Londonderry, Northern Ireland[1](https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) |
| Karting | 2016 to 2024; narrowly missed the FIA World Karting Championship title in 2023[4](https://www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-fr-oceania/drivers/2026/fionn-mclaughlin/) |
| Red Bull Junior Team | Joined after winning an eleven-driver shootout in F4 and GB3 cars at Jerez in August 2024[4](https://www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-fr-oceania/drivers/2026/fionn-mclaughlin/) |
| 2025 season | Third in the Formula Winter Series; F4 British Championship champion with Hitech TGR[3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) |
| British F4 record | Title won by a 52.5-point margin with two races to spare; five wins, nine further podiums, two poles, eight fastest laps[5](https://fiaformula4.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin-2/) |
| 2026 season | Rookie FIA Formula 3 campaign with Hitech TGR; 2 points, 27th in the standings[3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) |
## Karting career
McLaughlin started karting at the age of five and was winning championships around Ireland by the age of seven.[2](https://f1pedia.com/en/f3/encyclopedia/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) He credits his father, who raced motocross and karting, with introducing him to motorsport.[6](https://www.redbull.com/int-en/juniorteam/fionn-mclaughlin-from-karting-with-dad-to-the-f3-grid-2026) His karting career ran from 2016 to 2024 and took him across the UK, Europe, and the world; in 2023 he narrowly missed out on the FIA World Karting Championship title.[4](https://www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-fr-oceania/drivers/2026/fionn-mclaughlin/) • [7](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/cz0dxv207vlo)
## Red Bull Junior Team
In August 2024, having not yet broken into car racing, McLaughlin traveled from [Northern Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-ireland) to Jerez for a shootout to join [Red Bull Racing](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-bull-racing)'s junior team and won the eleven-driver selection, which was run in F4 and GB3 cars.[4](https://www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-fr-oceania/drivers/2026/fionn-mclaughlin/) • [8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/c9qnrxenndxo) [Helmut Marko](https://www.edgepedia.org/helmut-marko), a key figure in the Red Bull Junior program, was reportedly impressed by McLaughlin's rapid progress in his first season of car racing rather than by results alone.[8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/c9qnrxenndxo)
## 2025: British F4 championship
McLaughlin's first year in single-seater racing began with a third place in the Formula Winter Series.[3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) He then dominated the 2025 F4 British Championship with Hitech TGR, clinching the title at Brands Hatch GP by a 52.5-point margin with two races to spare. Across the season he took five wins, nine further podiums, two pole positions, and eight fastest laps.[5](https://fiaformula4.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin-2/) He also won the Rookie Cup title two rounds early, with 25 Rookie Cup podiums including 17 wins, and took pole position plus a podium at the non-championship round supporting the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.[5](https://fiaformula4.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin-2/)
At the [Macau Grand Prix](https://www.edgepedia.org/macau-grand-prix)'s FIA F4 World Cup in November 2025, McLaughlin qualified sixth on the grid for the qualifying race despite limited running, but his fightback ended with a crash on the last lap; he was classified 13th in the event.[9](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/cdeg0j7w6yno) • [3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin)
## 2026: Formula 3
Hitech TGR confirmed McLaughlin for the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season, completing its lineup alongside Jin Nakamura and Michael Shin.[10](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/latest/article/hitech-tgr-finalise-2026-lineup-with-fionn-mclaughlin.7uY84JTXWGFDbh4cLjcPq9) He tested the F3 car at Jerez, Barcelona, and Imola in October 2025 and described the step up from F4 as a significant change, particularly in braking performance and high-speed demand, with much more aerodynamic grip than the F4 car.[11](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/latest/article/mclaughlin-aiming-for-quick-f3-integration-with-hitech-tgr-in-2026.42dSPleh4W6DgmbzcpGbpm)
His debut season opened in Melbourne, where he scored 2 points and finished the year 27th in the standings.[3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin) After the opening round he described the weekend as a learning experience and said the team had the speed to return to the front of the field.[12](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/latest/article/mclaughlin-test-will-be-vital-ahead-of-physically-and-mentally-demanding-part-of-season.1uZRW7zTGoDfma65nlitKV)
## Representing Ireland
Only six Irish drivers have competed in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, and McLaughlin has spoken of his pride in representing Ireland as he climbs the junior ranks.[6](https://www.redbull.com/int-en/juniorteam/fionn-mclaughlin-from-karting-with-dad-to-the-f3-grid-2026) • [13](https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2026/0305/1561746-to-be-representing-ireland-im-so-proud-mclaughlin/)
## References
1. [Fionn McLaughlin profile, DriverDB](https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin)
2. [Fionn McLaughlin, F1pedia](https://f1pedia.com/en/f3/encyclopedia/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin)
3. [Fionn McLaughlin driver page, FIA Formula 3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin)
4. [Fionn McLaughlin driver profile, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand](https://www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-fr-oceania/drivers/2026/fionn-mclaughlin/)
5. [Fionn McLaughlin driver page, FIA British F4 Championship](https://fiaformula4.com/drivers/fionn-mclaughlin-2/)
6. [Fionn McLaughlin: From Karting with Dad to the F3 Grid, Red Bull](https://www.redbull.com/int-en/juniorteam/fionn-mclaughlin-from-karting-with-dad-to-the-f3-grid-2026)
7. [Fionn McLaughlin: The next Vettel or Verstappen? BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/cz0dxv207vlo)
8. [Fionn McLaughlin: British F4 champion says he is 'ready' to step up to Formula 3 in 2026, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/c9qnrxenndxo)
9. [Macau Grand Prix: Fionn McLaughlin's fightback halted by last-lap crash, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/cdeg0j7w6yno)
10. [Hitech TGR finalise 2026 lineup with Fionn McLaughlin, FIA Formula 3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/latest/article/hitech-tgr-finalise-2026-lineup-with-fionn-mclaughlin.7uY84JTXWGFDbh4cLjcPq9)
11. [McLaughlin aiming for quick F3 integration with Hitech TGR in 2026, FIA Formula 3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/latest/article/mclaughlin-aiming-for-quick-f3-integration-with-hitech-tgr-in-2026.42dSPleh4W6DgmbzcpGbpm)
12. [McLaughlin: Test will be vital ahead of 'physically and mentally demanding' part of season, FIA Formula 3](https://www.fiaformula3.com/en/latest/article/mclaughlin-test-will-be-vital-ahead-of-physically-and-mentally-demanding-part-of-season.1uZRW7zTGoDfma65nlitKV)
13. ['To be representing Ireland, I'm so proud' - McLaughlin, RTÉ](https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2026/0305/1561746-to-be-representing-ireland-im-so-proud-mclaughlin/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Cycling and motor sport › Formula One and Grand Prix motor racing › Formula One drivers, teams, and records*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license