McLaren announced the son of former Ferrari driver as its new junior driver

McLaren has introduced that it has exercised its possibility on Brando Badoer, welcoming the 18-year-old to the McLaren Driver Growth programme from October 2024.

The crew had beforehand signed an possibility on the Italian who presently competes in Method Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). After a 12-month interval of analysis, McLaren has opted to train this feature.

The son of former Ferrari driver, Luca Badoer made his single-seater debut within the 2022 Method 4 UAE Championship, whereas additionally racing within the Italian Method 4 collection in the identical yr. In 2023, he continued in each championships, scoring 5 podiums within the Italian collection, together with two second-place finishes at Imola and Monza.

Throughout the 2024 pre-season, Badoer achieved three podiums within the Method Regional Center East Championship, earlier than shifting as much as FRECA with Van Amersfoort Racing. Thus far, the 18-year-old has achieved seven podiums with 5 second-place finishes and two third locations.

As a part of his continued development via the McLaren Driver Growth programme, Badoer will compete for Prema Racing within the 2025 FIA Method 3 Championship alongside fellow McLaren Driver Growth programme member Ugo Ugochukwu.

Led by F1 Enterprise Operations Director, Stephanie Carlin, the McLaren Driver Growth programme will see Brando be a part of the crew’s expertise pipeline which has an overarching purpose to assist drivers develop in the direction of Method 1, IndyCar and Method E.

McLaren’s Director of F1 Enterprise Operations Stephanie Carlin commented: “It’s nice to welcome Brando to our Driver Growth programme.

„We’ve saved an in depth eye on him over the previous yr and have been impressed together with his performances as a rookie within the aggressive Method Regional championship, so it made sense to train our possibility and produce him into the programme full time. We stay up for seeing him racing in papaya and supporting his improvement as he strikes to compete within the FIA Method 3 Championship with Prema Racing.”

Commenting on his new alternative, Badoer famous: “I’m excited to hitch the McLaren Driver Growth programme. It’s a unbelievable alternative to hitch a crew with such an awesome racing heritage and a confirmed report for growing expertise.

„Competing within the 2025 FIA Method 3 Championship with Prema Racing will assist proceed my development and I’d wish to thank the entire crew at McLaren for his or her assist. I can’t wait to be taught from the crew’s steering and get racing within the crew’s iconic colors.”

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