McLaren Driver Development Programme

The McLaren Driver Development Programme, formerly known as the McLaren Young Driver Programme, is a driver development programme operated by McLaren. It is intended to offer year-by-year guidance, assistance and endorsement to help promising young racers climb the motorsport ladder. The programme was also formerly known as the McLaren-Honda Young Driver Programme and the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme, reflecting engine deals with Honda and Mercedes, respectively.

As of 2026, 10 former programme drivers have progressed to Formula One, with four graduating directly with McLaren: Lewis Hamilton in 2007, Kevin Magnussen in 2014, Stoffel Vandoorne in 2016, and Lando Norris in 2019. Hamilton and Norris have each won a Formula One World Drivers' Championship and multiple Grands Prix with the team. Hamilton, the programme's most notable participant, won the drivers' title seven times between 2008 and 2020.

History

The programme was founded in 1998 by McLaren and Mercedes as the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme. The programme notably signed Lewis Hamilton, Nick Heidfeld and Nicolas Minassian as some of its first drivers. From 2019 to 2021, no drivers were part of the program. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said this was due to the team's "very targeted" approach and already stable Formula One line-up, meaning it would be difficult for any young drivers to find a place in Formula One.

In April 2023, the Young Driver Programme was replaced by the Driver Development Programme. Later in October, the programme signed its first female driver in Bianca Bustamante, who represented McLaren in the 2024 season of F1 Academy. In October 2024, the programme signed its second female driver in Ella Lloyd, who represented McLaren in the 2025 F1 Academy season in place of Bustamante, who left the series and the programme after completing her second season. In November 2025, the programme announced the signing of Ella Häkkinen, the programme's youngest signing at the age of 14 and the daughter of 1998 and 1999 World Drivers' Champion and former McLaren driver Mika Häkkinen. The programme also signed Ella Stevens, who will join Lloyd as McLaren's second F1 Academy supported driver for the 2026 season.

Current drivers

Graduates to Formula One

This list contains the drivers that have graduated to Formula One with McLaren. Therefore, drivers who have had support in the past and entered F1 through other teams such as Nick Heidfeld (with Prost Grand Prix) and Gabriel Bortoleto (with Sauber), are not included.

• Championship titles highlighted in bold.
• † denotes currently active Formula One drivers.

Former drivers

• Championship titles highlighted in bold.

See also

• McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
• McLaren GT Driver Academy

Notes