Anthony Hamilton is set to join the FIA’s new Young Driver Development Pathway according to reports and I have the details in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on how to become a better driver on track, how fit must be to be a racing driver and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
RaceFlix sat down with German racing talent Sophia Flörsch for an in-depth chat about her career, breaking barriers in motorsport, and what drives her to succeed. From Formula 3 to Le Mans and beyond, Sophia shares her thoughts on the highs, the challenges, and the future of women in racing. Watch the interview in the video above.
The journey to becoming a racing driver can take many different forms. You can of course be thrown into a kart at the age of four and navigate your way to the pinnacle of motorsport, but not all of us are lucky enough to have that opportunity, so we need to think of other ways to make our dreams a reality. Simon Ostler of Goodwood Road & Racing explains how to become a better driver on track.
How fit do you have to be to be a racing driver? Car magazine looks to answer the question. “Put simply, the fitter you are, the better able you are to deal with the physical assault of racing while maintaining the mental acuity to drive as fast as possible. Even if you’re racing a car that puts precisely zero physical strain on you, the concentration required for only a 20-minute race can be absolutely exhausting. A quadruple stint at Le Mans lasts four hours. Being fit helps stave off the exhaustion, as well.”
Kevin Harvick has raised a fundamental concern that’s haunted American open-wheel hopefuls for decades. Why is it still so hard for U.S. drivers to reach Formula 1 through domestic systems? Appearing on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast alongside Fox journalist Will Buxton, Harvick discussed his son’s European karting barriers and the American drivers’ development ladder in open-wheel racing. Read what he had to say here.
Fifteen young women break barriers in one of the world’s most demanding sports as they race to get a female driver back on the Formula 1 grid. Watch the trailer for F1: The Academy above.
Speaking of F1 Academy, the series will be racing at the Canadian Grand Prix as it has been added to the bill in Montreal.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has announced that the 2025 Macau Grand Prix is set to feature more FIA World Cup racing action than ever before. The World Motor Sport Council has given its approval by e-vote for the creation of the Formula 4 World Cup, together with the return of the FR World Cup and GT World Cup.
The FIA F4 World Cup in Macau will offer the top drivers an incredible opportunity to race in a global field of F4 talent. There will be a rigorous driver selection process, with only the most talented young drivers given the opportunity to compete. Mintimes, the organiser of the F4 Chinese Championship, will be the Single Operator, together with FFSA, responsible for providing the technical support for the FIA F4 World Cup.
Speaking of F4, Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4 will appear at the same event for the first time after non-championship British F4 races have been added to the British Grand Prix bill. Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers says British Formula 4’s non-championship races on the British Grand Prix support bill will be “an international festival of F4” with teams reporting huge interest.
A brand-new intake of 23 aspiring young GT drivers have registered for the 2025 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy as the British luxury sportscar brand begins its search to endorse a ninth graduate from the prestigious initiative.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Racing Women is a global platform built for those ready to challenge the norm and drive change — literally. We’re bringing together women of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels to create new pathways in motorsport, from the first track day to international competition.
In the past weeks, our drivers hit the track at Yas Marina to test with the widely loved Radical race cars, connecting with driven talent, and laying the foundations for something bigger. This is just the start — and there’s so much more brewing.
Whether you’re here to race, support, learn, or simply be inspired, you’re in the right place.
You can follow them on Instagram @racingwomenco and check them out at their website: racingw.com
Formula E’s FIA Girls on Track program is an innovating way to introduce young girls to motorsport. Here are two articles that give a bit of detail on the program.
- Fuelling ambition: A Look Inside Formula E’s FIA Girls on Track (Ennis & Co Group)
- GIRLS ON TRACK DIARY: Daniela’s Unforgettable Introduction to Formula E in Monaco (Formula E)
Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony is set to receive an official role at the FIA helping the governing body with its young driver program. “As first revealed by The Times and verified by Autosport, Hamilton Sr has been working in an advisory capacity over the past 18 months and his role will become official at next month’s FIA conference in Macau, where the governing body will officially launch the FIA’s Young Driver Development Pathway.”
The FIA’s Young Driver Development Pathway, relating to grassroots development and the protection of young drivers from unethical managers or agents, is set to be launched at the governing body’s conference in Macau in June.
Redline Rising founder Alia Wu describes the goals of this new race driver development program for Motorsport Prospects readers. You can read about it here.
Formelaustria Young Drivers Simon Schranz and Hady Mimassi are the Renauer Motorsport regulars in this year’s F4 Central Europe campaign. However, for round 2 of the championship, the Austrian outfit and the country’s only junior driver academy are fielding a third car, which will be driven by Swede William Karlsson.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Cooper Webster aims to leverage iRacing for real-world racing opportunities and in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup you will find out how. I also have an interview with Daniel Morad who talks about his rise through the ranks from kart racing to sim racing, to being full time in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series and much more!
Driver Development Pathways
For Kyle Busch, the plan for his 10-year-old son Brexton is that there is no set plan for his development into an eventual NASCAR driver. “Right now, NASCAR is the end goal. So, I feel like you have to have some pavement stuff right now.” Read more here.
Four new members of the Motorsport UK Academy share their passions and aspirations in the March edition of Motorsport UK’s Revolution Magazine. You can read about them here.
The 2025 NXT Gen Cup season has welcomed an exciting new talent: 14-year-old Vera Jurland, who will tie the record as the youngest driver ever to compete in the fully electric touring car series. The Swedish-Danish racer is making the leap from international karting to electric touring car racing, taking on some of Germany’s most iconic circuits, including Oschersleben, Norisring, Nürburgring, and Sachsenring, as part of the prestigious DTM race weekends.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
