McLaren Young Driver Programme
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/McLaren_Young_Driver_Development_Programme.png)
The McLaren Young Driver Programme (formerly known as the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme, and the McLaren-Honda Young Driver 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 subsequently won the Formula One Drivers' Championship 7 times between 2008 and 2020.
As of the 2021 season, 4 drivers have graduated from the programme to the McLaren F1 team; Hamilton in 2007, Kevin Magnussen in 2014, Stoffel Vandoorne in 2016, and Lando Norris in 2019.
From 2019 to 2021, no drivers were part of the program, which McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said was due to the team's "very targeted" approach and already stable F1 line-up, meaning it would be difficult for any young drivers to find a place in Formula One.[1][2] In March 2021, American karting driver Ugo Ugochukwu was recruited into the programme.[3]
Drivers[]
Current[]
Driver | Years | Current series | Titles |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
2021– | F4 British Championship | None as McLaren YDP member |
Former[]
- Championship titles highlighted in bold.
See also[]
- McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
- McLaren GT Driver Academy
References[]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "McLaren sign long-term deal with 13-year-old American karting ace Ugo Ugochukwu". Formula 1 official website. Formula 1. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "McLaren sign long-term deal with 13-year-old American karting ace Ugo Ugochukwu". www.formula1.com. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Noble, Jonathan. "Futures on Fast Forward". Atlas F1. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Mclaren Sign Kart Drivers". Crash. 9 April 1998. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ De Groote, Steven (6 August 2003). "McLaren signs Cheng Congfu". F1 Technical. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "McLaren tukee suomalaislupausta". sportti.com. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Stig's son joins McLaren". The Telegraph. 26 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Lando Norris joins McLaren F1 young driver programme". GP Today. 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ 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.
External links[]
- Racing schools
- McLaren Group