James Hedley joins Van Amersfoort Racing for the final Formula 3 round in Monza
Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) announces a driver change for the final race weekend of the Formula 3 Championship. Following a strong season with a sprint race win in Melbourne and feature race win in Imola, totalling three podiums, it has been mutually decided that VAR and Santiago Ramos will part ways. James Hedley will replace him for the final round in Monza, Italy.
The Brit, born in Poole, Dorset, England, on September 1, 2003, started karting at age 11. A few years later, James made his car racing debut in the final two rounds of the 2017 Ginetta Junior Championship. He continued racing in the 2018 Ginetta Junior Championship, obtaining two podium places, finishing 8th in the championship. That same year, he became the Ginetta Junior Winter Series Champion with two wins on his name. The following year, James went on to become the Ginetta Junior Champion, finishing with seven wins and 18 podiums.
His single seater debut followed in 2020, when he entered the FIA British Formula 4 Championship. This is where he achieved four wins and seven podiums, continuing this momentum in 2021 with another four wins and six podiums. That same year, James joined the final rounds of the 2021 GB3 Championship. He continued in the GB3 Championship in both 2022 and 2023, achieving 2 wins in 2023.
James made his debut in FIA Formula 3 in 2024 as a replacement driver in the Monaco round. This year, he again participated in six rounds of the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Moving to Van Amersfoort Racing for the last round at the Temple of Speed, the team looks forward to standing by his side and assisting him in this exciting last round of the season.
Brad Joyce – Team Principal, Van Amersfoort Racing:
“We’re pleased to welcome James to the team for the final round at Monza. With prior race experience in the category and the clear potential we’ve seen from him, we expect he will adapt quickly to our environment. This weekend is a valuable opportunity for him to build on his time in FIA Formula 3, while for us it’s a chance to support him in making the most of it. We’re looking forward to working with him and are confident that he will make a positive impression.”
James Hedley – Formula 3 driver, Van Amersfoort Racing:
“Super happy to be continuing racing this weekend at Monza. I want to thank VAR very much for this last-minute opportunity. Also long time personal sponsors Clive Emson Auctioneers and everyone else who have supported me very generously. Couldn’t ask for a better birthday present.”
Santiago has played an important role in Van Amersfoort Racing’s 2025 FIA Formula 3 campaign, showing strong pace and determination throughout the season. The season had a great start with a sprint race win in Melbourne, following the team’s first feature race victory at Imola. With three podium finishes in total, he proved his competitiveness in one of the most demanding junior single-seater championships. His results not only underline his talent but also reflect the hard work and commitment he has put in alongside the team. The team thanks Santiago for his efforts and achievements this season and wishes him the very best for the next steps in his career.
James’ entry in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 season finale is a valuable opportunity for him to continue his development both on track and in preparation. We’ve seen his talent in previous series as well as the FIA F3 rounds and are looking forward to working with him. We encourage our fans and partners to follow his journey with VAR at Monza from 5-7 September.
About Van Amersfoort Racing
Van Amersfoort Racing is a professional racing team based in the Netherlands. It was founded by Frits van Amersfoort in 1975. Since then, Van Amersfoort Racing has built a long tradition of supporting up-and-coming drivers on their way to higher levels. Drivers like Max and Jos Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher, Kevin Magnussen, and Liam Lawson all raced for Frits van Amersfoort's team in the early stages of their careers before making it into Formula 1.