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Driver development program

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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

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See also: Formula One
Lewis Hamilton driving the McLaren MP4-23 (2008)
Sebastian Vettel driving the Red Bull RB6 (2010)
Max Verstappen driving the Red Bull RB16B (2021)
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 14 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 France Alpine 2002
AMF1 Driver Development Programme United Kingdom Aston Martin 2021
  • None
Ferrari Driver Academy Italy Ferrari 2009
Haas Driver Development Program United States Haas 2016
Honda Formula Dream Project [ja]
2006
McLaren Driver Development Programme United Kingdom McLaren 1998
Mercedes Junior Team Germany Mercedes 2014
Red Bull Junior Team Austria Red Bull Racing
Italy RB 		2001
Sauber Academy Switzerland Sauber 2019
  • None
Williams Driver Academy United Kingdom Williams 2016
Former teams
Caterham Development Driver Program Malaysia Caterham 2012–2014
Force India F1 Team Academy India Force India 2011–2018
  • None
Marussia F1 Team Young Driver Program Russia United Kingdom Marussia 2012–2015
Team Lotus Young Drivers Scheme Malaysia Team Lotus 2010–2011
  • None
Toyota Drivers Academy Japan Toyota 2003–2009

IndyCar Series

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See also: IndyCar Series

Super Formula

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See also: Super Formula

Stock car racing

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NASCAR

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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.

Notes

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  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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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.
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