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McLaren Driver Development Programme

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McLaren Driver Development Programme
Founded1998 (1998)
BaseWoking, Surrey, England, UK
Current driversWEC
Japan Ryō Hirakawa
IndyCar
Mexico Pato O'Ward[1]
Formula 2
Brazil Gabriel Bortoleto
Formula 3
Republic of Ireland Alex Dunne
Norway Martinius Stenshorne
FRECA
United States Ugo Ugochukwu[1]
Italy Brando Badoer
F1 Academy
Philippines Bianca Bustamante
United Kingdom Ella Lloyd (2025)
Karting
Belgium Dries Van Langendonck

The McLaren Driver Development Programme (formerly known as the McLaren Young Driver Programme, the McLaren-Honda Young Driver Programme, and the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme) is a driver development program operated by McLaren. It is intended to offer year-by-year guidance, assistance and endorsement to help promising young racers climb the motorsport ladder.

The most notable participant in the programme is Lewis Hamilton, who joined the programme while karting and eventually graduated to the McLaren F1 Team. He has won the Formula One Drivers' Championship seven times between 2008 and 2020, where the 2008 championship was won with McLaren. Hamilton is currently the only graduate from the programme who has won a World Championship as a McLaren driver.

Four programme drivers have graduated to the McLaren F1 Team: Lewis Hamilton in 2007, Kevin Magnussen in 2014, Stoffel Vandoorne in 2016, and Lando Norris in 2019. Hamilton and Norris have won a Grand Prix race with the team.

History

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The programme was founded in 1998 by McLaren and Mercedes as the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme. The programme notably signed Lewis Hamilton, Nick Heidfeld and Nicolas Minassian as some of its first drivers. From 2019 to 2021, no drivers were part of the program. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said this was due to the team's "very targeted" approach and already stable Formula One line-up, meaning it would be difficult for any young drivers to find a place in Formula One.[2][3]

In April 2023, the Young Driver Programme was replaced by the Driver Development Programme.[1] Later in October, the programme signed its first female driver in Bianca Bustamante, who will represent McLaren in the 2024 F1 Academy season.[4][5] In October 2024, the programme signed its second female driver in Ella Lloyd, who will represent McLaren in the 2025 F1 Academy season[6] in place of Bustamante, who will leave the series after completing her second season at the end of 2024.[7]

Drivers

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Current

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Driver Since Current series Titles achieved as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
United States Ugo Ugochukwu[8] 2021– Formula Regional Middle East Championship
Formula Regional European Championship
GB3 Championship 		Euro 4 Championship (2023)
Mexico Pato O'Ward[1] 2023– IndyCar Series none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
Japan Ryō Hirakawa[a][9] 2023– FIA World Endurance Championship FIA World Endurance Championship (2023)
Brazil Gabriel Bortoleto[10] 2023– FIA Formula 2 Championship none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
Philippines Bianca Bustamante[4] 2023– Formula Winter Series
F1 Academy 		none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
Republic of Ireland Alex Dunne[11] 2024– FIA Formula 3 Championship none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
Norway Martinius Stenshorne[11] 2024– Formula Regional Middle East Championship
FIA Formula 3 Championship 		none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
Belgium Dries Van Langendonck[12] 2024– Karting none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
Italy Brando Badoer[13] 2024– Formula Regional European Championship none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
United Kingdom Ella Lloyd[6] 2024– F1 Academy none as McLaren Driver Development Programme member
  • Ugo Ugochukwu
    Ugo Ugochukwu
  • Pato O'Ward
    Pato O'Ward
  • Ryō Hirakawa
    Ryō Hirakawa
  • Gabriel Bortoleto
    Gabriel Bortoleto
  • Bianca Bustamante
    Bianca Bustamante
  • Alex Dunne
    Alex Dunne
  • Martinius Stenshorne
    Martinius Stenshorne
  • Brando Badoer
    Brando Badoer

Former

[edit]
Driver Years Series competed F1 team(s)
United Kingdom Wesley Graves[14][15] 1998 Karting (1998) None
France Nicolas Minassian[14] 1998 International Formula 3000 Championship (1998) None
Germany Norman Simon[14] 1998 German Formula Three Championship (1998) None
Brazil Ricardo Zonta[14] 1998 FIA GT Championship (1998) BAR (1999–2000)
Jordan (2001)
Toyota (2004–2005)
Germany Nick Heidfeld[14] 1998–1999 International Formula 3000 Championship (1998–1999) Prost (2000)
Sauber (2001–2003; 2010)
Jordan (2004)
Williams (2005)
BMW Sauber (2006–2009)
Renault (2011)
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton[16] 1998–2006 Karting (1998–2001)
British Formula Renault Championship (2002–2003)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2004–2005)
GP2 Series (2006) 		McLaren (2007–2012)
Mercedes (2013–2024)
Ferrari (2025–)
Brazil Mário Haberfeld[17] 1999 International Formula 3000 Championship (1999) None
China Cheng Congfu[18] 2003–2006 British Formula Renault Championship (2003–2006) None
Netherlands Giedo van der Garde 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series (2006) Caterham (2013)
United Kingdom Oliver Rowland 2007–2010 Karting (2007–2010) None
Thailand Alexander Albon 2010 Karting (2010) Toro Rosso (2019)
Red Bull Racing (2019–2020)
Williams (2022–)
United Kingdom Jack Harvey 2010 Formula BMW Europe (2010) None
Finland Petri Suvanto[19] 2010 Formula BMW Europe (2010) None
United Kingdom Oliver Turvey 2010–2011 GP2 Series (2010–2011) None
Denmark Kevin Magnussen[16] 2010–2013 German Formula Three Championship (2010)
British Formula 3 International Series (2011)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012–2013) 		McLaren (2014–2015)
Renault (2016)
Haas (2017–2020; 2022–2024)
United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat 2010–2015 Karting (2010–2013)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2014)
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2014–2015) 		None
Netherlands Nyck de Vries[20] 2010–2018 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2012–2014)
Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2013–2014)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2015)
GP3 Series (2016)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2017–2018) 		Williams (2022)
AlphaTauri (2023)
United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist[21] 2012 FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2012) None
Singapore Andrew Tang[22] 2012 Karting (2012) None
Belgium Stoffel Vandoorne[16] 2013–2016 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2013)
GP2 Series (2014–2015) 		McLaren (2016–2018)
Japan Nobuharu Matsushita[23] 2015–2017 GP2 Series (2015–2016)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2017) 		None
Japan Nirei Fukuzumi 2016–2017 GP3 Series (2016–2017) None
United Kingdom Lando Norris[24] 2017–2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2017)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2018) 		McLaren (2019–)
Brazil Sérgio Sette Câmara[25] 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019) None
Spain Álex Palou[26][27] 2023 IndyCar Series (2023) None
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hirakawa is also a member of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Driver Challenge

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "McLAREN ANNOUNCES NEW DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME". McLaren.com. McLaren.
  2. ^ van Osten, Phillip (24 December 2020). "Brown: Lack of McLaren young drivers due to 'different philosophy'". F1i.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. ^ Smith, Luke (23 December 2020). "McLaren sticking to "targeted" approach for F1 young driver programme". Autosport.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "McLaren sign F1 Academy's Bianca Bustamante as first female member of Driver Development Programme". Formula 1®. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  5. ^ "All 10 Formula 1 teams will have F1 Academy drivers and liveries for the 2024 season". F1® Academy. 26 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Ella Lloyd to represent McLaren for the 2025 F1 Academy season". McLaren. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Rules and Regulations". F1 Academy. Retrieved 15 October 2024. Additionally, all drivers may only compete in two seasons of the series.
  8. ^ "McLaren sign long-term deal with 13-year-old American karting ace Ugo Ugochukwu". www.formula1.com. 22 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  9. ^ Jogia, Saajan (22 September 2023). "F1 News: McLaren Takes on New Reserve Driver". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  10. ^ Wood, Ida (5 October 2023). "McLaren signs Bortoleto as junior, makes Badoer an 'optioned driver'". Formula Scout. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b "FIA FORMULA 3 DRIVERS ALEX DUNNE AND MARTINIUS STENSHORNE JOIN McLAREN DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME". McLaren. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  12. ^ "2023 World Junior Karting Champion Dries Van Langendonck joins the McLaren Driver Development programme". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Brando Badoer joins McLaren Driver Development programme". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e Noble, Jonathan. "Futures on Fast Forward". Atlas F1. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Mclaren Sign Kart Drivers". Crash. 9 April 1998. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "FAITH IN YOUTH: McLaren's young driver track record". Formula1.com. 5 September 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  17. ^ Bradley, Charles (25 December 2018). "The F1 test driver who now saves wild jaguars". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  18. ^ De Groote, Steven (6 August 2003). "McLaren signs Cheng Congfu". F1 Technical. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  19. ^ "McLaren tukee suomalaislupausta". sportti.com. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  20. ^ Wood, Elliot (6 May 2019). "Nyck de Vries' split with McLaren confirmed". Formula Scout. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Stig's son joins McLaren". The Telegraph. 26 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  22. ^ de Cotta, Ian (10 February 2014). "Tang wins big in New Zealand". Today Online.
  23. ^ "2017 McLaren-Honda Young Driver Programme members revealed". McLaren Racing. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Lando Norris joins McLaren F1 young driver programme". GP Today. 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  25. ^ Wood, Elliot (9 March 2020). "Sergio Sette Camara leaves McLaren for return to Red Bull". Formula Scout. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  26. ^ Fryer, Jenna (28 July 2022). "IndyCar champ Palou declares he will be at McLaren in 2023". AP News. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  27. ^ Martin, Bruce (18 August 2023). "McLaren And Arrow McLaren File Lawsuit Against Alex Palou". Forbes. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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