Driver development program

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Script error: No such module "about". A driver development program,Template:Efn 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

Formula One

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Template:Multiple image 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 Template:Ifnumber.^[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)Template:Efn
Alpine Academy	Template:Flagicon Alpine	2002	Template:Plainlist
AMF1 Driver Development Programme	Template:Flagicon Aston Martin	2021	Template:Plainlist
Ferrari Driver Academy	Template:Flagicon Ferrari	2009	Template:Plainlist
Haas Driver Development Program	Template:Flagicon Haas	2016	Template:Plainlist
Template:Ill	Template:Plainlist	2006	Template:Plainlist
McLaren Driver Development Programme	Template:Flagicon McLaren	1998	Template:Plainlist
Mercedes Junior Team	Template:Flagicon Mercedes	2014	Template:Plainlist
Red Bull Junior Team	Template:Flagicon Red Bull Template:Flagicon Racing Bulls	2001	Template:Plainlist
Sauber Academy	Template:Flagicon Sauber	2019	Template:Plainlist
Williams Driver Academy	Template:Flagicon Williams	2016	Template:Plainlist
Former teams
Caterham Development Driver Program	Template:Flagicon Caterham	2012–2014	Template:Plainlist
Force India F1 Team Academy	Template:Flagicon Force India	2011–2018	Template:Plainlist
Marussia F1 Team Young Driver Program	Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Marussia	2012–2015	Template:Plainlist
Team Lotus Young Drivers Scheme	Template:Flagicon Team Lotus	2010–2011	Template:Plainlist
Toyota Young Drivers Programme	Template:Flagicon Toyota Template:Flagicon Williams Template:Efn	2001–2009	Template:Plainlist

IndyCar Series

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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

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Stock car racing

NASCAR

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". All of these teams have their own developmental driver programs and/or field cars/trucks on their team for developmental drivers.

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