'No room for error' - McLaughlin makes Macau debut

British F4 champion Fionn McLaughlin will race in Formula 3 in 2026

British F4 champion Fionn McLaughlin says there is "no room for error" as he makes his debut at the Macau Grand Prix from 15-16 November.

McLaughlin is one of seven Formula 4 champions on a grid of 20 drivers from around the globe who will compete for the Macau F4 World Cup.

The Guia street circuit is one of the most fearsome about, with 3.8 miles of narrow, high-speed roads lined with walls only inches away.

"There are F4 champions from across the world doing this race and it will be the top level," Red Bull Junior driver McLaughlin told BBC Sport NI.

"It will be good to see how I compare against them. There will be many expectations for many around the track, but for me it is about doing a good job.

"The main goal is winning, and I'll work hard to try and get that. Racing against the best F4 drivers will be nice."

After years in karting, McLaughlin only started car racing in 2025 and dominated British F4 to take the overall and rookie championships with Hitech Racing.

Racing at Macau will be the first time the 18-year-old from Northern Ireland has raced on a street circuit but he says it's "one of the best tracks" he has driven in the simulator.

"I can't wait to feel the speed and the thrill of it," he said.

"On the sim it is amazing with how fast and flowing it is, and how tight it is with the walls.

"I can't wait to experience that in real life. The risk-taking will probably be a bit lower than normal. If you take too many risks then you will be in the wall."

'Hopefully I can become one of the best'

McLaughlin took part in three Formula 3 tests as he prepares to race on Formula 1 weekends in 2026

After dominating British F4, McLaughlin will take a big step in his career as he moves up to Formula 3 for 2026.

He will again race with Hitech, the team which took him to the British F4 success, and will be competing on 10 Formula 1 weekends throughout the season.

Just days after his final race at Brands Hatch, McLaughlin took part in the first of three tests in Spain and Italy to try a Formula 3 car for the first time and he said he "learnt a lot".

"How much speed you can carry through the corner is the main difference. The braking is quite hard," the teenager said.

"There's a lot more aero and most of it is when you flow through the corner. You have to carry the speed and trust the grip. It's crazy compared to F4.

"I know what to do, and in my brain I'm telling myself to do the right thing, but it's having the confidence to do it.

"Getting used to that initially was hard but I feel like I'm getting there now. I'm confident I'll be ready at the start of the season."

The Formula 3 season begins in Melbourne on 7 March before rounds in Bahrain, Monaco, Barcelona, Austria, Silverstone, Belgium, Hungary, Italy and Madrid.

"I'm so excited and I can't wait to see how much I improve. Hopefully I can become one of the best drivers on the grid," McLaughlin added.

"The race all of the best drivers around at Melbourne will be special."