McLaren have announced a new driver development programme aimed at developing top talent to graduate into F1.
McLaren previously operated a Young Driver Programme between 1998-2019 prior to a two-season sabbatical, before Ugo Ugochukwu signed for the programme upon its relaunch in 2021.
Ugochukwu has since been joined by IndyCar’s Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward who drive for Chip Ganssi and Arrow McLaren respectively, with Palou also acting as McLaren’s F1 Reserve Driver.
All three drivers will remain part of the revamped programme which is designed to create a ‘talent pipeline’ across McLaren’s various teams running in F1, IndyCar and Formula E in either a race driver or test driver role.
Ex F1 driver, Emanuele Pirro will head the new Driver Development programme, having previously served as McLaren Test Driver across late 1980 & early 90s, when Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger raced for the team.
Speaking about his decision to become the lead of McLaren’s Driver Development programme, Pirro said that he is “thrilled” to return to a team which “played a crucial role” in his road to F1.
Pirro also revealed what lies ahead in the coming months, as he added: “Together with my team, my role will assist in creating a state-of-the-art programme, selecting the best possible drivers and providing them with all the tools they need to make the best use of their talent.
“Furthermore, embed them in the McLaren mission, vision and values and hopefully, have one of them progress to the F1 team.
“An important asset for us are the IndyCar and Formula E teams, which will give extra opportunities for a professional career to our McLaren Driver Development members.”
On what it means to mentor the future generation of top talent, Pirro commented: “I love working with young drivers and helping them grow and improve. Every time I did it in the past has been an enriching experience and I look forward to doing it again.”
McLaren CEO, Zak Brown added that he is “proud” to reaffirm McLaren’s commitment to the youth talent within motorsport from karting right up the junior ladder, with view of placing future talent into one of their main racing categories.
Brown also iterated that the mentoring team are “experienced” and “capable of providing the support and resources required to develop raw young talent into highly competitive professional racing drivers.”
Broown added that he is “excited” to retain O’Ward, Palou and Ugochukwu and continue supporting their development, whilst building the McLaren Driver Development programme further.
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