Driver development program

System designed for young racing drivers to perfect their racing skills

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A driver development program,[a] also known as a driver development team or driver academy, is a system or structure designed to identify and develop talent in auto racing. Programs are typically offered to drivers aged 12 to 25 in junior racing categories—such as kart racing and lower formulae—with the aim of progressing to top-level motorsport series, often devised by racing teams, external companies and sponsors.

Driver development programs involve the scouting, signing and training of driver talent around the world. Racing teams will typically sign young drivers with the intention of eventually graduating them to a senior category with the organisation, such as Formula One, IndyCar or NASCAR. Many teams sign drivers to multi-year contracts, in which they assist in funding their careers in junior formulae—such as kart racing, Formula Three and Formula Two in open-wheel racing, as well as late models and ARCA in stock car racing—to develop their talent and experience. Such contracts may also serve to prevent driver talent from being poached. Many programs now employ a wide range of coaching methods and technologies to train all of the physical and psychological attributes required in high-level motorsport, including full motion racing simulators and psychotherapy.

Some programs have been criticized for offering long-term, low-paying contracts, whilst occasionally charging additional fees for the use of their facilities and technologies. Companies that specialise in driver training and related programs remain commercially viable through such fees, and typically do not financially support junior careers. Investment in a driver may also be recouped via a share of earnings from wages and brand deals.

## Open-wheel racing

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### Formula One

[edit]

See also: Formula One

Three graduates of driver development programs have won the World Drivers' Championship: Lewis Hamilton of McLaren (2008), Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull (2010), and Max Verstappen (2021) of Red Bull

In 1998, McLaren became the first Formula One team to establish a driver development program, founding the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme;[1] its initial cohort famously included 13-year-old kart racer Lewis Hamilton,[2] who became the first driver development program alumnus in Formula One to win the World Drivers' Championship in 2008.[3] The Red Bull Junior Team have graduated 15 members—and two former members—to Formula One, noted for their use of a second team to promote junior talent under the wing of Helmut Marko.[4] As of 2024, Red Bull have coached two World Drivers' Champions, both winning their titles with Red Bull Racing: Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.[5]

Driver program  | Team  | Est | Selected Driver(s)[b]

|
|
|

Alpine Academy |  Alpine | 2002  |

* Heikki Kovalainen (2007)
* Romain Grosjean (2009)
* Jack Doohan (2024)

AMF1 Driver Development Programme |  Aston Martin | 2021  |

* None

Ferrari Driver Academy |  Ferrari | 2009  |

* Sergio Pérez (2011)
* Jules Bianchi (2013)
* Charles Leclerc (2018)
* Mick Schumacher (2021)
* Oliver Bearman (2024)

Haas Driver Development Program |  Haas | 2016  |

* Pietro Fittipaldi (2020)

Honda Formula Dream Project [ja] |

* Honda
* Red Bull Racing[c]
* RB[c]

| 2006  |

* Yuki Tsunoda (2021)[d]

McLaren Driver Development Programme |  McLaren | 1998  |

* Nick Heidfeld (2000)
* Lewis Hamilton (2007)
* Kevin Magnussen (2014)
* Stoffel Vandoorne (2016)
* Lando Norris (2019)

Mercedes Junior Team |  Mercedes | 2014  |

* Pascal Wehrlein (2016)
* Esteban Ocon (2016)
* George Russell (2019)
* Andrea Kimi Antonelli (2025)

Red Bull Junior Team |  Red Bull Racing
RB | 2001  |

* Christian Klien (2004)
* Vitantonio Liuzzi (2005)
* Scott Speed (2006)
* Sebastian Vettel (2007)
* Sébastien Buemi (2009)
* Jaime Alguersuari (2009)
* Daniel Ricciardo (2011)
* Jean-Éric Vergne (2012)
* Daniil Kvyat (2014)
* Max Verstappen (2015)
* Carlos Sainz Jr. (2015)
* Pierre Gasly (2017)
* Yuki Tsunoda (2021)[e]
* Liam Lawson (2023)
* Isack Hadjar (2025)

Sauber Academy |  Sauber | 2019  |

* None

Williams Driver Academy |  Williams | 2016  |

* Lance Stroll (2017)
* Nicholas Latifi (2020)
* Jack Aitken (2020)
* Logan Sargeant (2023)
* Franco Colapinto (2024)

Former teams
Caterham Development Driver Program |  Caterham | 2012–2014  |

* Giedo van der Garde (2013)
* Will Stevens (2014)

Force India F1 Team Academy |  Force India | 2011–2018  |

* None

Marussia F1 Team Young Driver Program |  Marussia | 2012–2015  |

* Max Chilton (2013)

Team Lotus Young Drivers Scheme |  Team Lotus | 2010–2011  |

* None

Toyota Young Drivers Programme |  Toyota | 2003–2009 |

* Kazuki Nakajima (2007)
* Kamui Kobayashi (2009)

### IndyCar Series

[edit]

See also: IndyCar Series

* Andretti Global – Lochie Hughes, Salvador de Alba, Dennis Hauger, James Roe Jr., Ricardo Escotto, Sebastian Murray (all Indy NXT), Oliver Wheldon (Skip Barber Formula Race Series), Sebastian Wheldon (Italian F4 Championship)
* Chip Ganassi Racing – Jonathan Browne, Niels Koolen (both Indy NXT), Jett Bowling, Nicolas Stati (both Formula Regional Oceania Championship)
* Ed Carpenter Racing – Josh Pierson (Indy NXT)
* Juncos Hollinger Racing – Miguel María García (Indy NXT)
* Team Penske – Myles Rowe (Indy NXT)

### Super Formula

[edit]

See also: Super Formula

* Honda Formula Dream Project
* TGR Driver Challenge Program

## Stock car racing

[edit]

### NASCAR

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2025)

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See also: NASCAR

All of these teams have their own developmental driver programs and/or field cars/trucks on their team for developmental drivers.

* B. J. McLeod Motorsports
* Jairo Avila Jr.
* Josh Bilicki
* Mason Massey
* Vinnie Miller
* Matt Mills

* Chip Ganassi Racing
* Ross Chastain

* DGM Racing
* Dillon Bassett
* Ronnie Bassett Jr.
* Alex Labbé
* Josh Williams

* DGR-Crosley (also part of Ford Performance)
* Hailie Deegan
* Tanner Gray
* Taylor Gray
* Thad Moffitt

* GMS Racing and JR Motorsports (Drivers Edge Development)[6]
* Tyler Ankrum
* Josh Berry
* Toni Breidinger
* Jeb Burton
* Sheldon Creed
* Noah Gragson
* David Gravel
* Carson Hocevar
* Adam Lemke
* Sam Mayer
* Brett Moffitt
* Connor Mosack
* Zane Smith

* Hattori Racing Enterprises
* Austin Hill
* Max McLaughlin

* JD Motorsports
* Jeffrey Earnhardt
* Colby Howard
* Jesse Little
* Robby Lyons

* Jimmy Means Racing
* Kody Vanderwal

* Joe Gibbs Racing
* Harrison Burton
* Ty Gibbs
* Riley Herbst
* Brandon Jones

* Kaulig Racing
* Ross Chastain
* Justin Haley

* Kyle Busch Motorsports
* Christian Eckes
* Raphaël Lessard

* MBM Motorsports
* Chad Finchum

* Niece Motorsports
* Jeb Burton
* Natalie Decker
* Carson Hocevar
* Jett Noland
* Ty Majeski
* Ryan Truex

* On Point Motorsports
* Danny Bohn
* Brennan Poole

* Richard Childress Racing
* Anthony Alfredo
* Kaz Grala
* Myatt Snider

* RSS Racing
* C. J. McLaughlin
* Myatt Snider

* Sam Hunt Racing
* Colin Garrett

* SS-Green Light Racing
* Ray Black Jr.
* Joe Graf Jr.

* Stewart-Haas Racing (also part of Ford Performance)
* Chase Briscoe

* Team Penske (also part of Ford Performance)
* Austin Cindric

* ThorSport Racing (also part of Ford Performance)
* Grant Enfinger
* Ben Rhodes

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ British English: driver development programme
2. ^ Drivers who have graduated to Formula One as members of the program, as of 2024. Bold indicates a World Drivers' Champion.
3. ^ a b As an engine supplier.
4. ^ Also a member of the Red Bull Junior Team.
5. ^ Also a member of the Honda Formula Dream Project [ja].

## See also

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* Drive for Diversity
* Drivers Edge Development
* Porsche Junioren
* VMB Driver Development

## References

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1. ^ Yi, Daniel; Vashee, Harshi (3 September 2021). "F1 Driver Development Programmes: McLaren Young Driver Programme". Divebomb. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
2. ^ "McLaren and Mercedes delighted with Hamilton title win". Pitpass.com. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
3. ^ Foster, Ed (August 2012). "2008: Lewis Hamilton". Motor Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
4. ^ Boxall-Legge, Jake; Cleeren, Filip (21 August 2024). "Exclusive: Inside RB's growth from second-string junior team to Red Bull's 'brother'". Autosport. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
5. ^ Kraaij, Tim (12 June 2023). "How Red Bull prepare young drivers like Verstappen and Vettel for F1". GPBlog. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
6. ^ Motorsports, J. R. "JR Motorsports, GMS Racing Launch Drivers Edge Development". www.jrmracing.com. Retrieved 2019-02-17.

*[Est]: Established