Yevan David, the first Sri Lankan driver in Formula 3 history, prepares for his absolute debut this weekend at Albert Park and opens up exclusively to GPKingdom: “Hamilton is my inspiration: I started watching F1 because of him. I can’t wait to make my debut alongside F1 this weekend.”
There are stories in motorsport that go beyond the confines of the track to embrace entire nations. Yevan David‘s is undoubtedly one of them. This weekend, between the walls of Albert Park in Melbourne, the young talent will write an indelible page for his country: he will officially be the first Sri Lankan driver to line up on the Formula 3 starting grid.
An achievement as prestigious as it is well-deserved, born almost by chance in 2014 in a go-kart after seeing Lewis Hamilton—his idol alongside Michael Jordan—race and win with Mercedes. After taking his first steps in single-seaters in 2024 and gaining crucial experience, which culminated in a thrilling victory in the Euroformula Open at Monza last year, Yevan is now ready for the big leap. Sharing the stage with Formula 1 is no longer just a dream, but the reality he will face starting this weekend and which he will have to get used to race by race.
We interviewed him on the eve of his Australian debut to hear about his emotions, the challenges he has faced so far, and the pride of representing an entire nation on track.
How did your passion for racing begin?
“I started watching Formula 1 in 2014 because of Lewis Hamilton: I’d watch him race and win with Mercedes. That same year, I also tried a go-kart for the first time in Sri Lanka and was instantly hooked by the feeling of going fast while being in control. Eventually, I just fell in love with winning, too.” .
Who is your idol?
“Lewis Hamilton and Michael Jordan. I love the way Lewis races and how he carries himself not just as a driver, but as an inspiration to never give up and to keep working on yourself. And Michael Jordan is the face of the NBA. I’ve always loved seeing how he overcame so many obstacles and worked as hard as possible to be the best version of himself. His achievements are the result of a work ethic and a mentality that I use as a benchmark.”
This will be your third year in single-seaters. How did you adapt to the transition from karts in 2024?
“It wasn’t easy. It takes time to find the limit of the car, and I was learning exponentially with every test and race weekend. By mid-season, I had established a good baseline for my driving and just kept improving.”
Who is the toughest driver you’ve raced against so far?
“I wouldn’t narrow it down to anyone in particular: racing is super competitive with a lot of great drivers out there. If I have to name names, Freddie Slater and Kean Nakamura-Berta were exceptional in Formula 4.”
What is the best memory of your career so far?
“The final race of the Euroformula Open at Monza last year. Winning in front of my family and so many fans from Sri Lanka, and ending the season on a high note, was incredibly fun and something I’ll remember forever.”
READ ALSO: PREMA Racing: new CEO and F3 line-up!
You always carry the Sri Lankan flag onto the podium. How does it feel to be the first driver from your nation in Formula 3?
“Surreal. My dream was never just to be a racing driver, but also to bring my flag with me. I have the opportunity to represent my nation with pride, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.”
What excites you most about racing in Formula 3?
“Racing on the same weekends as Formula 1, the atmosphere, and tracks like Monaco and Melbourne. It will be a strange feeling at first, but I’ll definitely get used to it over time.”
Photos: Formula 3 website, Instagram @lewishamilton, @yevandavidofficial
