Audi has launched a driver development program and in this week’s Driver Development Roundup you will find out why. I also have advice on the mindset you need to achieve your goals, why quitting is not an option and more!
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
The Mindset Needed When Going for Your Goals
The ‘Superpower’ That Will Be Crucial to Arvid Lindblad’s F1 Progress
Arvid Lindblad has demonstrated how important a mentor can be. Motorsport Week reports that Oliver Rowland’s Formula E expertise will be a “little superpower” for protege Arvid Lindblad in his maiden Formula 1 season in 2026.
“I mean, Ollie himself, not talking about the Formula E aspect, I’ve learned so much from him. It wasn’t that long ago that he was on the ladder on the way up to F1. I’m massively grateful to him for his support, and it’s a big reason why I’ve been able to come through the ranks so quickly.”
Freddie Slater Voted FREC Driver of the Season by Team Principals
Freddie Slater has followed up his Formula Regional European Championship title by being voted driver of the season by the paddock’s team principals and managers. In a poll conducted by Formula Scout, each of the teams in the championship was asked to submit their ranking of the top 10 drivers for the 2025 season. To maintain objectivity, team principals were not allowed to vote for their own drivers. Points in the poll were awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Nine team principals participated, giving a maximum theoretical score of 80 points.
Ford Driver Development Team Expands to 14 Members
Ford Racing’s newly re-named Driver Development Team has expanded to 14 drivers for this year, with key additions in several emerging markets for Mustang machinery in the sports car racing ranks. The expanded program will continue to feature the involvement racing legends Mike Rockenfeller and Andy Priaulx, who will serve as mentors to the crop of up-and-coming drivers.
McLaren Motorsport Confirms 2026 Factory GT Racing Driver Line-Up
After a successful 2025 season, 2026 is set to be an even bigger year as McLaren Motorsport confirms its expanded roster of 16 Factory Drivers, a distinguished and international lineup representing the brand’s competitive racing DNA across leading global GT series.
As an integral element of McLaren Motorsport’s GT racing proposition, the Factory Drivers form part of McLaren’s customer racing programmes globally, while feeding into the development programmes of the GT3, GT4 and Trophy car range.
Jonathan Woolridge Joins Bryan Herta Autosport / PR1 IMSA LMP2 Program as Official Test and Development Driver
Bryan Herta Autosport, in partnership with PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports, today announced that Jonathan Woolridge has joined the organization as an Official Test and Development Driver for its IMSA LMP2 program, with the support of Fortress Technology, a global leader in the design and manufacture of industrial inspection systems.
Woolridge will be fully embedded with the Bryan Herta Autosport / PR1 operation beginning with the Rolex 24 At Daytona, marking the start of an expanded role that includes race-weekend integration, engineering collaboration, and an intensive in-season testing program throughout the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Audi Launches Driver Development Program
Audi has launched its Driver Development Program ahead of the manufacturer’s first season in Formula 1, appointing former F1 racer and Le Mans winner Allan McNish as director.
Members of the program will have access to Audi’s technical resources and work closely with engineers and specialists, receiving mentorship and guidance in both driving and team operations.
“To be entrusted with finding the cornerstones of the future Audi F1 Team is a great honour and a responsibility I am very passionate about,” said McNish. “This brand is built on a history of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’, and that philosophy must apply to our young drivers as much as to our cars. We are not just looking for raw speed; we are looking for the resilience, intelligence, and team-driven mindset that defines a future Audi champion. Our goal is to build a pathway that turns potential into precision and performance on the world stage. I am thrilled to begin this work and identify the first generation of talent to join this ambitious project.”
Team principal Jonathan Wheatley said the initiative is a key element of Audi’s long-term strategy in F1.
“Investing in the champions of tomorrow is a key pillar of our Formula 1strategy. The Audi Driver Development Program is a clear statement of our long-term commitment to youth and our ambition to be competitive,” he said. “With Allan McNish, we have a director who not only has an incredible track record in motorsport but also embodies the spirit and dedication of our operations. Under his leadership, this program will be integral to our vision for 2030, our goal of building a winning team and shaping the future of Audi in Formula 1.”
F.F. Corse GT Driver Academy Applications Now Open
Now entering its third year, the F.F. Corse GT Driver Academy is a completely free program to enter and be a member of. Applications for the 2026 season are now open. You can apply via their website here.
Finalists Chosen for Inaugural FAT Racing Shootout to Secure F4 Drive
The finalists have been selected for the inaugural shootout for a scheme created by former Formula 1 engineer Rob Smedley to offer a British F4 campaign to an underfunded driver.
“This is a historic moment for us, but more importantly, it’s a statement of intent,” explained Smedley. “This has taken years of relentless work, belief and refusal to accept the status quo. Today, we are crystallising a real pathway from the FAT Karting League into single-seater racing that is based on talent, performance and capability — not on who can afford to pay their way forward. For too long, motorsport has filtered out exceptional ability simply because of budget. That has to change. Talent deserves opportunity, not exclusion, and we’re proud to be building a system that finally puts ability first.”
Karting
2026 FIA Karting Academy Trophy Applications Open for the UK
Applications are now open to represent Motorsport UK in the 2026 FIA Karting Academy Trophy. The FIA Karting Academy Trophy is a unique competition designed to pit the best young kart racers from around the world against each other on equal terms. Drivers are randomly assigned karts with supplied chassis and are equipped with OK and OK-Junior engines from the nominated supplier, alongside a controlled tyre option and strict limits on tire usage.
Full details can be found here.
Team of Tomorrow Karting Program Returns to Albert Park
The Team of Tomorrow program will return to Albert Park in 2026, giving junior karting talent rare behind-the-scenes access at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Run in collaboration with Karting Australia, the initiative will select two young karters to experience the grand prix weekend from inside the paddock, offering exposure to the demands of elite-level motorsport both on and off the track.
The program, which debuted in 2025, is designed to strengthen the pathway from karting through to F1 by immersing participants in the scale and intensity of a global sporting event. Alongside track activity, those selected will take part in media duties, fan engagements, stage appearances, and other commitments typically faced by professional drivers.
Private Equity, Developing ‘Talent,’ and Arrive and Drive: Modern Karting’s Mess.
Alan Dove explains “karting’s mess” in that Birel and IAME commit to developing talent while FIA push arrive and drive. Meanwhile drivers circumvent these routes anyway. “What I find somewhat confusing is the mixed messaging that is now being put out. On one hand, we have the FIA putting a lot of effort into their “Arrive and Drive” initiatives, and on the other, we have Birel and IAME coming out with a “developing young talent” statement within the OK and KZ structures as they formally announce their technical partnership:”
Last Week on the Podcast
No Quitters: The Mindset of a Pro Racer
Don’t forget to download and listen to last week’s episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast where I interview USF Pro Championships Series Development Director Rob Howden. Rob has some great advice for those wanting to become professional race drivers so make sure you tune in! The episode dropped on Wednesday, January 21st and is available on all your favourite podcast platforms.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
IndyCar Driver Christian Rasmussen Works to Overcome Million-Dollar Debt
Christian Rasmussen is working to pay off a 7-figure debt incurred in his motorsport journey to IndyCar and you will learn how he got there in last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. I also have tips on getting motorsport sponsorship and more!
From Last Week’s Sim Racing Roundup
Motorsport UK launches Cross Car Esports Cup With Real-World Racing Prize
Motorsport UK has launched the Cross Car Esports Cup, with the winner getting a real-world motorsport opportunity and last week’s Sim Racing Roundup has all the details. I also have advice on setting up a racing sim from Max Verstappen and much more!
Driver Journeys
Mason Workman and Family | SCCA Member
Mason Workman is more than an SCCA Runoffs National Champion, he’s the son of an SCCA member and the father of another, with all three spending time behind the wheel. Yet it’s more than track time that keeps them coming back for more; it’s the time they spend together. The Workman family’s motorsport adventure truly is what the Sports Car Club of America is all about.
F1 Academy Champion Pin Signs As Mercedes F1 Development Driver
F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin has been named a development driver for Mercedes F1, her rise through the motorsport ranks has been impressive. She will attend several Grands Prix for the squad, while acting as a support and sounding board to Mercedes’ 2026 F1 Academy driver, dovetailing these responsibilities with a soon-to-be-announced racing program.
As Wheel2Wheel Reports‘ Lorena Serrat writes, this is a huge development. “Pin’s appointment represents a powerful statement for the future of women in motorsport. With experience ranging from karting to WEC and IMSA competition, she brings a strong technical background to one of Formula 1’s most demanding teams. Running her in a Formula 1 car during a Free Practice session would not be merely symbolic, but also a reflection of the sport’s current reality particular given the last time a woman took part in a Free Practice session was in 2014, when Susie Wolff drove in FP1 for Williams.”
F1’s Rising Star Arvid Lindblad on his Journey to the Top with Red Bull
Formula One will see just one new face joining the grid in 2026 in 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad, who is set to fill the seat of fellow Campos Racing alumnus Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls (RB). The British driver spent the bulk of his junior career as a member of the Red Bull junior team, which is designed as a talent pipeline preparing young drivers for the pinnacle of motorsport and he thanks the program for his success. “I’ve developed mentally and am where I am now partly because of them. They’ve played a massive role and I’m very grateful for the support they’ve given me.”
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.
