In Joel Esteban's debut season in the European Talent Cup, he managed to step onto the podium in his first race. His impressive performance caught the attention of the Aspar Junior Team, which signed him for the 2021 season in the same category. The young Catalan rider secured three consecutive victories, accompanied by four additional podiums. However, due to medical reasons, he was unable to contend for the championship. In 2023, he moved up to the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™, adding four more podiums to his résumé, including two victories, a pole position, and a Top 4 finish in the overall standings. For 2024, Esteban made the leap to the Moto3™ World Championship with the Aspar Team and started off well with a string of strong point-scoring finishes, including a P4 at the French GP. However, his form tailed off in the second half of the season and ultimately cost him a full-time seat on the Moto3 grid. The Spaniard rejoined the JuniorGP Championship for 2025, finishing third in the Championship and clinching his first win in France. Esteban was a readily available replacement rider in 2025, competing for three different teams with a best finish of P4, catching the attention of the MTA Team, who have signed him for the 2026 season.