Ferrari Driver Academy

Ferrari Driver Academy is an initiative from Formula One team Scuderia Ferrari to promote young talent inside its own organisation, with several drivers being selected and funded by the team, being under long-term contracts.[1]

History

The idea of the concept came from Felipe Massa's grooming within the Ferrari organisation, with the Brazilian being loaned out to Sauber for three seasons whilst being under contract with Ferrari. Jules Bianchi became the first recruit to the scheme in December 2009, being followed by Mirko Bortolotti, Daniel Zampieri and Raffaele Marciello in March 2010.[2] In late 2010, Ferrari confirmed Sergio Pérez had been signed up to the scheme, the Mexican being set to be its first graduate to Formula One competition, having already signed for Ferrari-powered, Sauber, days before the announcement.[3][4] Pérez ceased being a member of the Academy after signing to McLaren in 2013. Bianchi also ceased being a member in July 2015 after succumbing to injuries he sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix while racing for the Ferrari-powered Marussia team. Lance Stroll ceased being a member following his departure to Williams. Marciello ceased to be a member for personal reasons.

After rumours of the academy being disbanded, it was announced that the programme would be expanded with Massimo Rivola as its new head. On 23 June 2015, Antonio Fuoco had his first Formula One test with Ferrari during the 2-day post-Austrian Grand Prix test in Spielberg at the Red Bull Ring. In March 2016, it was announced that Charles Leclerc would be inducted into the Ferrari Driver Academy. In November of that year, Enzo Fittipaldi was among five drivers invited to join the Ferrari Driver Academy and was confirmed as a Ferrari Driver Academy member alongside Marcus Armstrong the following month. In late 2017 Ferrari added Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman and Gianluca Petecof to their line-up. Mick Schumacher, the son of multiple Formula One World champion Michael Schumacher was added to the lineup.

In September 2018, it was announced Leclerc would become the first academy member to graduate to Ferrari in 2019.[5]

Current drivers

Driver Joined Since Current Series Titles
Giuliano Alesi 2016
FIA Formula 2 Championship none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Marcus Armstrong 2017
Italian F4 Championship
Callum Ilott[6] 2017 none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Robert Shwartzman[7] 2017 Toyota Racing Series
FIA Formula 3 Championship
Mick Schumacher 2019 none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Enzo Fittipaldi 2017 FIA Formula 3 Championship Italian F4 Championship
Gianluca Petecof[8] 2017 Formula Regional European Championship none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Arthur Leclerc 2020 none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Dino Beganovic 2020 ADAC Formula 4
Italian F4 Championship
none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
David Tonizza 2019 F1 Esports F1 Esports Series
Enzo Bonito 2020 none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Source:[9][10]

Former drivers

Driver Years Series competed F1 team(s)
Jules Bianchi 2009–2014 Formula 3 Euro Series (2009)
GP2 Series (20102011)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012)
Formula One (20132014)
Marussia (2013–2014)
Mirko Bortolotti 2010 GP3 Series (2010) None
Daniel Zampieri 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010) None
Sergio Pérez 2010–2012 GP2 Series (2010)
Formula One (20112012)
Sauber (2011–2012)
McLaren (2013)
Force India (2014–2018)
Racing Point (2019)
Brandon Maïsano 2010–2012 Formula Abarth (2010)
Italian Formula Three Championship (20112012)
None
Lance Stroll 2010–2015 Karting (2010–2013)
Italian F4 Championship (2014)
Toyota Racing Series (2015)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2015–2016)
Williams (2017–2018)
Racing Point (2019)
Raffaele Marciello 2010–2015 Formula Abarth (2010)
Italian Formula Three Championship (2011)
Toyota Racing Series (2012)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2012)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (20122013)
GP2 Series (20142015)
None
Antonio Fuoco 2013–2018 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2013)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2014)
GP3 Series (20152016)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (20172018)
None
Guanyu Zhou[11] 2014–2018 Italian F4 Championship (2015)
ADAC Formula 4 (2015)
Toyota Racing Series (2016)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (20162018)
None
Charles Leclerc[12] 2016–2017 GP3 Series (2016)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2017)
Sauber (2018)
Ferrari (2019)
Sebastian Montoya 2018 OKJ European None
Amos Laurito 2019 F1 Esports None
Gianfranco Giglioli 2019 F1 Esports None
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

See also

References

  1. Elizalde, Pablo (18 December 2009). "Ferrari sets up young driver academy". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. Beer, Matt (6 March 2010). "Ferrari expands young driver academy". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. Noble, Jonathan (8 October 2010). "Perez joins Ferrari young driver scheme". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  4. "FDA testing at Fiorano: on track with Formula 3 today and F1 Thursday". Ferrari.com. 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  5. "Charles Leclerc to drive for Scuderia Ferrari in 2019". Scuderia Ferrari. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  6. "Ilott is first British driver to join FDA". pitpass.com. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  7. Wood, Elliot (24 October 2017). "Robert Shwartzman added to Ferrari Driver Academy". formulascout.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  8. "Ferrari adds Brazilian karter Gianluca Petecof to Driver Academy | Formula Scout". www.formulascout.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  9. Mitchell, Scott (19 January 2019). "Ferrari adds Schumacher to F1 junior programme". motorsport.com. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  10. "Arthur Leclerc and Dino Beganovic for the Scuderia's young driver programme". 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  11. "Scuderia Ferrari: new from China". Ferrari.com. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. Costa, Massimo (25 November 2015). "ESCLUSIVO Leclerc nuovo pilota del Ferrari Driver Academy (EXCLUSIVE Leclerc new pilot of the Ferrari Driver Academy)". Italiaracing. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
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