Ferrari Driver Academy

Racing driver development program by Ferrari

Italy Ferrari Driver Academy
Founded2009 (2009)
BaseMaranello, Province of Modena, Italy
Current driversFIA Formula 2
United Kingdom Oliver Bearman
FIA Formula 3
Sweden Dino Beganovic
Formula Regional European Championship
Brazil Rafael Câmara
Finland Tuukka Taponen
F1 Academy
Netherlands Maya Weug
Brazil Aurelia Nobels
Websitehttps://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/fda

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, while under long-term contracts. Several Academy drivers have been promoted to Formula One: Charles Leclerc, Sergio Pérez, Lance Stroll, Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu and Oliver Bearman.

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.[1] 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.[2][3] Pérez ceased being a member of the academy after signing to McLaren in 2013. Bianchi also ceased being a member in July 2015, after dying from injuries he sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix while racing for the Ferrari-powered Marussia team. Lance Stroll also ceased being a member following his departure to Williams. Marciello, on the other hand, 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 2019.

In September 2018, it was announced Leclerc would become the first academy member to graduate to Ferrari in 2019.[4]

Mick Schumacher graduated to F1 with Haas F1 after winning the 2020 Formula 2 Championship, while Championship runner-up Callum Ilott was given a test and reserve driver role at Scuderia Ferrari. After 2020, three drivers left the academy: Giuliano Alesi, Enzo Fittipaldi and reigning Formula Regional European Champion Gianluca Petecof, meanwhile Australian karter James Wharton joined it after winning the Ferrari Scouting competition.[5]

In January 2021, Maya Weug, 16, became the first female driver to join the academy.[6] In Autumn of 2021 Ferrari added European Karting vice-champion Rafael Câmara and Italian F4 and ADAC F4 champion Ollie Bearman to their lineup, after the pair won the Ferrari's Scouting World Final.[7]

Following the second running of the Girls On Track – Rising Stars competition Laura Camps Torras was signed to the setup.[8]

Current drivers

Driver Years Current Series Titles as FDA member
Sweden Dino Beganovic 2020– FIA Formula 3 Championship Formula Regional European Championship
Netherlands Maya Weug 2021– F1 Academy none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
United Kingdom Oliver Bearman 2022– FIA Formula 2 Championship none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Brazil Rafael Câmara 2022– Formula Regional European Championship none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Finland Tuukka Taponen[9] 2023– Formula Regional European Championship Formula Regional Middle East Championship
Brazil Aurelia Nobels[9] 2023– F1 Academy none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Sources:[10][11][12][13]

Scuderia Ferrari Esports Team

Driver Joined Since Current Series Titles as FDA member
Italy Mirko Suriano 2022– F1 Sim Racing PSGL S2 E-series
Iran Bardia Broumand 2023– PSGL F1 PC S34 Constructor's standings
France Nicolas Longuet 2023– PSGL F1 PC S34 Constructor's standings
Poland Tomasz Poradzisz 2023– PSGL S2 E-series
United Kingdom Dylan Warren 2023– PSGL S2 E-series
Hungary István Puki 2023– PSGL S2 E-series
Poland Kamil Stachura 2023– PSGL S2 E-series
United Kingdom Jonathan Riley 2023– SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports Ferrari Esports Series (2022)
Netherlands Chris Harteveld 2023– SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
SRO Esports Sim Pro Series
SRO Esports Sim Pro Series
Germany Dennis Jordan 2023– rFactor 2 GT Challenge
Formula SimRacing World Championship
Virtual Endurance Championship
rFactor 2 GT Challenge
Germany Alex Siebel 2023– none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
North Macedonia Timotej Andonovski 2023– rFactor 2 GT Challenge
Virtual Endurance Championship
none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Netherlands Isaac Gillissen 2024– SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
Virtual Endurance Championship
DTM Esports Pro Championship
none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Hungary Gergő Báldi 2024– SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
DTM Esports Pro Championship
none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Russia Mikhail Statsenko 2024– SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports none as Ferrari Driver Academy member
Lithuania Grantas Kareckas 2024– none as Ferrari Driver Academy member

Former drivers

Driver Years Series competed as Ferrari Driver Academy member F1 team(s)
France Jules Bianchi 2009–2014 Formula 3 Euro Series (2009)
GP2 Series (20102011)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012)
Formula One (20132014)
Marussia (2013–2014)
Italy Mirko Bortolotti 2010 GP3 Series (2010) None
Italy Daniel Zampieri 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010) None
Mexico Sergio Pérez 2010–2012 GP2 Series (2010)
Formula One (20112012)
Sauber (2011–2012)
McLaren (2013)
Force India (2014–2018)
Racing Point (2019–2020)
Red Bull Racing (2021–)
France Brandon Maïsano 2010–2012 Formula Abarth (2010)
Italian Formula Three Championship (20112012)
None
Canada Lance Stroll 2010–2015 Karting (2010–2013)
Italian F4 Championship (2014)
Toyota Racing Series (2015)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2015)
Williams (2017–2018)
Racing Point (2019–2020)
Aston Martin (2021–)
Italy 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
Italy 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
China Zhou Guanyu[14] 2014–2018 Italian F4 Championship (2015)
ADAC Formula 4 (2015)
Toyota Racing Series (2016)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (20162018)
Alfa Romeo (2022–2023)
Kick Sauber (2024)
Monaco Charles Leclerc[15] 2016–2018 GP3 Series (2016)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2017)
Sauber (2018)
Ferrari (2019–)
France Giuliano Alesi[16][17] 2016–2020 GP3 Series (20162018)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (20192020)
None
Brazil Gianluca Petecof[18] 2017–2020 Italian F4 Championship (20182019)
ADAC Formula 4 (20182019)
Formula Regional European Championship (2020)
None
Brazil Enzo Fittipaldi 2017–2020 ADAC Formula 4 (20172018)
Italian F4 Championship (20172018)
Formula Regional European Championship (2019)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020)
None
New Zealand Marcus Armstrong 2017–2021 Toyota Racing Series (20172019)
Italian F4 Championship (2017)
ADAC Formula 4 (2017)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2018)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (20202021)
None
United Kingdom Callum Ilott[19] 2017–2021[note 1] GP3 Series (2018)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (20192020)
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (2021)
None
Russia/Israel Robert Shwartzman[20] 2017–2022 Formula Renault Eurocup (2017)
Toyota Racing Series (2018)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2018)
FIA Formula 3 Championship
(2019)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (20202021)
None
Germany Mick Schumacher[21] 2019–2022 Formula 2 Championship (20192020) Haas (2021–2022)
Monaco Arthur Leclerc 2020–2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship
(20212022)
FIA Formula 2 Championship
(2023)
None
Australia James Wharton 2021–2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship
(2022-2023)
Italian F4 Championship
(2022-2023)
ADAC Formula 4
(2022)
Euro 4 Championship
(2023)
None
Spain Laura Camps Torras[22] 2022 Karting (2022) None
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

Former FDA Esports drivers

Driver Years Series competed in Titles as FDA Esports member
Italy Amos Laurito 2019 F1 Esports
SRO GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
GT World Challenge Esports Europe Endurance Cup (2021)
Italy Gianfranco Giglioli 2019 F1 Esports None
Italy Enzo Bonito 2020 F1 Esports
SRO E-Sport GT Series Championship
None
Slovakia Filip Prešnajder 2020 F1 Esports None
Italy Domenico Lovece 2021 F1 Esports None
Italy David Tonizza 2019–2022 F1 Esports
SRO GT World Challenge Esports Europe
SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
F1 Esports (2019)
SRO GT World Challenge Esports Europe Endurance Cup (2021)
Italy Giovanni De Salvo 2021–2022 SRO GT World Challenge Esports Europe
SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
Ferrari Esports Series (2020)
SRO GT World Challenge Esports Europe Endurance Cup (2021)
United Kingdom Brendon Leigh 2021–2022 F1 Esports SRO GT World Challenge Esports Europe Endurance Cup (2021)
Hungary Bence Szabó-Kónyi 2021–2022 F1 Esports None
Denmark Kasper Stoltze 2021-2023 Le Mans Virtual Series None
Netherlands Jordy Zwiers 2021-2023 Le Mans Virtual Series None
Denmark Martin Dyrlund 2021-2023 Le Mans Virtual Series None
Chile Fabrizio Donoso Delgado 2022 F1 Esports None
Poland Kamil Pawłowski 2022 SRO GT World Challenge Esports Europe
SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
Ferrari Esports Series (2021)
Italy Danilo Santoro 2022 SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports None
Italy Daniel Savini 2022 SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports None
Germany Christian Michel 2022-2023 Le Mans Virtual Series None
France Hugo Merlhes 2022 SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports None
Germany Sven Zurner 2022 F1 Esports None
United States Chandler Seita 2022 F1 Esports None
Italy Andrea Capoccia 2023 SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports None
South Africa Jordan Sherratt 2023 SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports
SRO Esports Sim Pro Series
None

Esports

In 2019, Ferrari established the FDA Esports Team to compete in the Formula One Esports Series.[23] That same year, Italian David Tonizza won the drivers' championship, securing their first championship victory.[24]

In 2020, Enzo Bonito and Filip Prešnajder joined the team. A much harder season was to come, with Ferrari only taking 2 wins in the season, both achieved by Tonizza.

For 2021, two-time Esports champion Brendon Leigh joined the team from Mercedes to partner Tonizza and newcomer Domenico Lovece. They finished 4th in the teams' championship on 125 points with 1 win and 2 podiums, both from Tonizza.

Runner-up from 2017 Fabrizio Donoso joined Leigh and Tonizza at Ferrari for 2022. They endured their worst season to date, with only one podium from Leigh and ending up 7th in the team standings.

Complete F1 Esports Series results

Year Chassis Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points WCC
2019 Ferrari SF90 BHR CHN AZE CAN RBR GBR GER BEL ITA JPN USA BRA 184 2nd
Italy David Tonizza 1 1 3 8 1 5 3 4 3 4 6 2
Italy Amos Laurito 16 16 13 19 16 19 17 20 17
Italy Gianfranco Giglioli 17 16 15
2020 Ferrari SF1000 BHR VIE CHN NED CAN RBR GBR BEL ITA JPN MEX BRA 100 5th
Italy David Tonizza 20 1 19 11 Ret 10 5 8 1 7 Ret 6
Italy Enzo Bonito 14 7 20 10 11 11 8 5 14 11 19
Slovakia Filip Prešnajder 11
2021 Ferrari SF21 BHR CHN RBR GBR ITA BEL POR NED USA EMI MEX BRA 125 4th
Italy David Tonizza 9 14 5 10 15 3 6 5 5 1 9
United Kingdom Brendon Leigh 12 6 8 6 19 18 17 9 11 5 5 18
Italy Domenico Lovece 11
2022 Ferrari F1-75

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Ilott is still contracted to Ferrari, but is said to be on an extended "gap year" from the academy while racing in the IndyCar Series.[13]

References

  1. ^ Beer, Matt (6 March 2010). "Ferrari expands young driver academy". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. ^ Noble, Jonathan (8 October 2010). "Perez joins Ferrari young driver scheme". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Charles Leclerc to drive for Scuderia Ferrari in 2019". Scuderia Ferrari. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. ^ Allen, Peter (9 December 2020). "James Wharton wins Ferrari Driver Academy scouting shootout". Formula Scout. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. ^ George Ramsay (23 January 2021). "Maya Weug becomes first female driver to earn a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy". CNN. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. ^ Gascoigne, Roger (8 November 2021). "Bearman and Camara signed by Ferrari Driver Academy for 2022". Formula Scout. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Laura Camps Torras wins Girls on Track – Rising Stars and a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy". www.ferrari.com. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b "The Ferrari Driver Academy year gets underway". www.ferrari.com. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  10. ^ Mitchell, Scott (19 January 2019). "Ferrari adds Schumacher to F1 junior programme". motorsport.com. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Arthur Leclerc and Dino Beganovic for the Scuderia's young driver programme". 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. ^ Smith, Luke (8 November 2021). "British youngster Bearman joins Ferrari Driver Academy". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Al via il 2022 della Ferrari Driver Academy". www.ferrari.com (in Italian). Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Scuderia Ferrari: new from China". Ferrari.com. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Alesi's F1 dream fades over funding issues". Planet F1. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Giuliano Alesi leaves the Ferrari Driver Academy and F2". Formula Scout. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Ferrari adds Brazilian karter Gianluca Petecof to Driver Academy | Formula Scout". www.formulascout.com. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Ilott is first British driver to join FDA". pitpass.com. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  20. ^ Wood, Elliot (24 October 2017). "Robert Shwartzman added to Ferrari Driver Academy". Formula Scout. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  21. ^ Ferrari confirms Schumacher's exit from F1 young driver academy Autosport 15 December 2022
  22. ^ "Joining the Ferrari Driver Academy and winner of #GirlsOnTrack Senior competition… Laura Camps Torras". Twitter. Ferrari Driver Academy. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  23. ^ "Ten Teams Confirmed For 2019 F1 New Balance Esports Series". 31 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Tonizza And Red Bull Crowned Champions! 2019 F1 Esports Grand Final Report". 5 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.

External links

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