Alex Wurz has explained why his son, Charlie Wurz, will not be making the step up to Formula 2 for the 2025 season.
It was confirmed last week that Wurz will join Trident as one of three drivers to race for the team in Formula 3 next year, coming over from Jenzer Motorsport who have left the series after the 2023 season.
The Austrian will replace F3 champion Leonardo Fornaroli who will make the switch to Formula 2 in 2025 with Invicta Racing.
The 18-year-old is the son of the former F1 driver, who drove with Benetton from 1998 to 2000 and then latterly with Williams in 2007.
He is also in charge of his son’s management and has spoken to Speedweek about why he decided to stay within F3, despite having the opportunity to progress.
Charlie Wurtz wanted to improve F3 championship chances
Drivers usually take up the opportunity to progress through the feeder series ranks as quickly as possible, due to the potential chances that could come through F1 teams.
Wurz explained that his son wanted to put himself in a position that could improve his chances of winning the title, with their previous plans already being to do at least two years in the junior catagory.
“Charlie didn’t want that yet,” explains Wurz.
“We already said last year that you usually drive two years in Formula 3 to get to know all the tracks. He also prefers to be able to join in Formula 3 at the front under pressure for the championship.”
Charlie Wurtz ‘can’t wait to get to work’ with Trident for 2025
Wurz had a successful junior career while progressing through the ranks, including winning the Formula 4 UAE Championship in 2022 and the Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
His season at Jenzer in 2024 was difficult, having only achieved a points finish with fifth place at the Feature Race in Australia.
READ MORE: Why Rene Rosin believes PREMA were ‘compromised’ in FIA F3 this season
Wurz finished the season in 22nd place on just 10 points, while his teammate Max Esterson was 21st with 11 points.
Posting to social media, Wurz expressed his enthusiasm in switching to the defending champions Trident for the 2025 season.