Are you too old to make it as a race driver? In this week’s Driver Development Roundup, you will get some advice on what you can do when it comes to your age to keep your motorsport dreams alive. I also have a look at how Michael Schumacher prepared himself in his race career, a scholarship opportunity for New Zealand racers and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
In the video above, Enzo Mucci asks, are you too old to make it to F1? “How old is too old for making it, as a driver, to F1? Well, let’s talk about that.”
The Business of Speed looks at how Michael Schumacher turned preparation, precision, and psychology into a winning machine. “It was obsessive systematization. While rivals chased tenths with talent, he built compound edges that made victory inevitable before the lights went out. He treated performance as an operating system: design the architecture, instrument the inputs, run tighter feedback loops than anyone else, and compound.”
Yes it is a promoted article but Autosport looks at the 2026-27 RAFA Racing Club Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior Programme.
“Applications have opened for drivers with ambitions of becoming the 2026-27 RAFA Racing Club Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior. Not only is it a prestigious prize to win, but a lucrative one too with £85,000 being provided towards the chosen one’s budget for each of the next two seasons. That’s not all – the new Junior will also benefit from a wealth of on- and off-track support as well as the chance to represent the manufacturer at high-profile events, like the Goodwood Festival of Speed.”
Yiu can read the complete article here.
“The Seat” showcases the once-in-a-generation decision to promote Kimi Antonelli to a Formula 1 Driver, making him the third-youngest rookie in the sport’s history. Witness the private WhatsApp calls and chats that led to the shocking shift within Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Watch the trailer above. The full documentary is currently available on Netflix.
The Wolfbrook Motorsport Foundation is accelerating into 2026, continuing its mission to nurture and support New Zealand’s next generation of racing stars. Founded by Wolfbrook Director Steve Brooks, the Foundation offers emerging talent a competitive edge, supplying the latest Toyota GR86 along with up to $50,000 in funding to help cover running costs to compete in the 2025/26 Toyota GR86 season. Applications are now open, inviting aspiring racers to compete in a brand-new Toyota GR86 this season. You can apply HERE
Velocity News has the details here.
Most Formula 1 teams and a few of the larger NASCAR organizations have created driver development programs to identify and provide opportunity to what they hope will be the stars of the future. Will Turner and Turner Motorsport are applying the same principle across IMSA’s diverse sports car racing platform that includes the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Michelin Pilot Challenge, and the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.
The IMSA website has all the details here.
Stillness In Speed: Demitria Chalkias on the mental game of racing – and life. “In this exclusive Optimyz cover story, Demitria shares how she stays grounded in a high-octane world, why mindset is her sharpest gear, and how she’s using her platform to challenge expectations, break norms, and inspire women to race toward their own bold ambitions.”
Driver Development Program News & Resources
The Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award will not take place this year, ahead of a re-evaluation of the prestigious competition.
“With big plans to develop the contest in the future, the stakeholders have agreed to a review ahead of the launch of a new-look Award. The partners are launching a process to reinvent the Award for the modern motorsport landscape. They do so from a position of strength as this season there are four former finalists on the F1 grid, underlining the huge contribution the programme has made nurturing young British drivers towards F1.”
Ferrari has bolstered its Driver Academy ranks by adding two new junior drivers to its roster. Italian youngster Niccolò Maccagnani has joined the program, along with F1 Academy driver Alba Larsen, after impressing in her first season in the category.
In a major boost to India’s motorsport ecosystem, Narain Karthikeyan, the country’s first Formula One driver, has officially joined Ajith Racing as Mentor and Head of Driver Development, the team has announced. Karthikeyan’s role will include overseeing driver scouting and training programs, advising on technical and race engineering decisions, and representing the team in international forums.
The video above features Lewis Hamilton discussing the work of Mission44. Read more about the British Grand Prix weekend and what else Mission 44, Formula 1 and the Motorsport Scholars got up to at: https://mission44.org/mission-44-drives-change-at-silverstone-with-lewis-hamilton-f1-and-motorsport-scholars/
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Using the sim to prepare for the 2026 F1 car is just one of the topics covered in my last Sim Racing Roundup. I also have a video looking at the realism of iRacing and Le Mans Ultimate from a real-world racer plus much more!
Karting
Following significant interest and applications from ASNs that have nominated drivers to compete in the FIA Arrive and Drive Karting World Cup in Malaysia, the FIA has decided to open individual entries for the event at the later date of 21 August. More details can be found here.
Driver Journeys
At 17, Glasgow teenager Ally Chalmers has made history by becoming Scotland’s first wheelchair-using racing car driver. “His Mini Cooper S has been specially adapted so he can use hand controls to accelerate and brake. Ally recently raced in the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup at Knockhill in Fife, one of the UK’s most respected club-level motorsport events. It was his first proper race and he was named runner-up Driver of the Day.”
Read. more about his story at the BBC here.
Rafael Camara has been near-untouchable in F3 this year, which proved surprising – even to him. Autosport talks to him about his season so far and why he is surprised at where he is at.
“Obviously no. I mean, it was a big surprise. I think after all the preparation we did, obviously you always want to win, you always go into a championship thinking that you can win the championship, thinking that you’re going to fight for what you can. But I was never expecting to start how we started in Australia.”
Swiss driver Jasmin Preisig describes herself as having “Benzin im Blut” – “petrol in her blood.” Hailing from a motorsport family, she has excelled in endurance racing, crowned by a class victory at the 2023 Barcelona 24H. Paddock Sorority had the chance to have a quick Q&A with Jasmin. Here is her reflection on her career and the legendary Nordschleife, where she’s honed her expertise through countless laps.
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.
