McLaren has signed the 2025 System Regional European runner-up Matteo De Palo to its driver improvement programme as a part of an academy shake-up.
The 18-year-old secured his greatest outcome since transferring to single-seaters in 2023 by ending second to FRECA champion Freddie Slater forward of his commencement to System 3 with Trident subsequent 12 months.
De Palo will now additionally contest F3 with the backing of McLaren, whose first act will likely be supporting the Italian when he competes on this weekend’s Macau Grand Prix.
“Becoming a member of the McLaren Driver Improvement Programme is a superb honour,” stated De Palo, who additionally has expertise within the respective Italian and British F4 championships.
“The workforce have a unbelievable observe file for growing expertise, so I’m excited to develop throughout all parts of being a racing driver.
“Thanks to Zak [Brown], Alessandro [Alunni Bravi] and your complete McLaren workforce. I’m excited to get out on observe in papaya.”
Podium: second place Martinius Stenshorne, Hitech TGR
Picture by: Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
De Palo’s arrival got here alongside the information that F3 trio Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne and Brando Badoer will all depart the McLaren fold on the finish of the 12 months.
Alunni Bravi, who runs the academy, stated: “The McLaren Driver Improvement Programme is happy to welcome Matteo. He’s an thrilling younger expertise who has made nice progress over the previous seasons, exhibiting adaptability, consistency and progress.
“We stay up for supporting his improvement throughout driving, in addition to the broader elements of being an expert driver, inside our programme pathway.
“We additionally thank Ugo, Martinius and Brando for his or her contribution to McLaren and need them the perfect for the longer term.”
McLaren said that the goal of its programme is to progress drivers in direction of its efforts in System 1, IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship, which it is going to enter from 2027.
The Woking firm has among the many most spectacular driver academy alumni, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, present F1 factors chief Lando Norris, ex-F1 driver Kevin Magnussen and System E champion Stoffel Vandoorne all having graduated.
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