How drivers step up to F3 is just one of the topics covered in this week’s edition of the Driver Development Roundup. You will also learn how to handle failure and disappointment, how Susie Wolff is encouraging more females to race and how Oscar Piastri has evolved to become a prime title contender. All this and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
In the video above, Enzo Mucci discusses how to handle failure and disappointment. “Your career (and life) will take many wild swings at you, and leave you feeling disappointed. Here is some of my advice on how to handle this.”
Each season, the Formula 3 grid features a large number of rookie drivers, with more than half of the 2025 grid being new to the series. At a virtual media roundtable earlier this week, Feeder Series spoke to two team bosses, Trident’s Giacomo Ricci and Van Amersfoort Racing’s Bradley Joyce, to understand how teams help drivers with the step up to F3. Read how F3 teams prepare rookies for the step up here.
Lottery.com Inc. and Sports.com announced a sponsorship agreement with Racing Women LLC, the movement pioneering access and opportunity for women in motorsports and STEM programs worldwide.
Matthew McGahan, Chairman and CEO of Sports.com and Lottery.com, commented:
“Women’s motorsport has long been underserved, and Racing Women is changing that decisively. What Graeme and his team are doing isn’t just admirable, it’s essential. This partnership reflects our belief in the power of sport to create change, and in the unique role Sports.com can play in scaling authentic, inclusive opportunities.”
Graeme Glew, Founder of Racing Women, said:
“Forming a relationship with Sports.com is a pivotal moment for us. It’s not just about this season—it’s about the future. Together, we’re setting out to build a sustainable, recognizable global brand that gives women a real chance to compete at the very highest levels of motorsport. We’re proud to have Sports.com beside us as we take the next steps on that journey.”
The St. Albert Gazette profiles F1 Academy director Susie Wolff who wants to inspire more women to race. “That’s a long-term ambition. We’ve got to be realistic in that it’s tough to get to Formula One, regardless of your gender,” Wolff said. “We already see more women, in the whole paddock and racing, if it’s about when we’re going to see women in Formula One, then for sure, it’s going to take a bit more time.”
CUPRA KIRO have signed Bianca Bustamante as their official Development Driver. As Development Driver, Bustamante will make her first official appearance in CUPRA KIRO colours in Jakarta, where she will shadow full-time drivers Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann while embedding herself in the team.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has detailed how Oscar Piastri has evolved to become a prime title contender in just his third full-time Formula 1 season in 2025. “Well, I think the most important improvement, if anything, is that Oscar has become a faster driver,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “I think when you are a faster driver then you have more opportunity, more time to process, more bandwidth to process things. And this is true when you are in the car, and this is also true when you are outside the car.”
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Motorsport Australia’s Southern Districts Car Club has successfully launched its Junior Development Program for a 21st year, providing local young drivers with the necessary skills to begin their motorsport careers at the Mid Murray Motorplex in Cambrai in a safe setting.
Spanning over four seperate days and supported by Motorsport Australia, with morning and afternoon sessions catering to 18 drivers each (36 drivers per day), the club has just one day remaining for this year’s program on Saturday 19 July 2025.
2026 SDCC JDP registrations will open later in the year, with pre-registration available via email at JDP@sdcc.asn.au
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Max Verstappen’s success is driven by the sim and in this week’s Sim Racing Roundup Helmut Marko explains why. I also have more sim racing tips and tricks, the latest sim racing tech news and much more!
Driver Development Pathways
Here is a great episode of the Motorsport Coaching episode featuring race driver Tom Sargent. “Tom delves into his experiences on the track, sharing insights into the technical and emotional challenges of major endurance races like the Daytona 24 hour. He highlights the vital role of mental preparation in overcoming hurdles, such as adjusting to new environments and racing schedules. Tom also discusses the passionate fan culture in the U.S., with their unparalleled enthusiasm providing a unique racing atmosphere. His journey with sponsorships reflects the differences between the professional racing landscapes in the U.S. and Australia, and how networking and relationship-building play crucial roles in sustaining a career in motorsport.”
In an exclusive interview with Pitlane-News, Chadd Randall had the opportunity to sit down with Colin Queen, a rising star in the 2025 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series. At just 20 years old, Colin has already made a significant impact in motorsports, transitioning from a successful open-wheel career to the world of GT racing with ANSA Motorsports. The Lamborghini Super Trofeo is a premier one-make racing series organized by Lamborghini Squadra Corse. It features identical Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo and Evo2 race cars, offering a platform for both professional and amateur drivers to compete globally.
Pro Late Model racer Noah Eisenhower recorded three top-10 finishes in five events while participating in various activities benefiting veterans during the first segment of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. Read about his experiences here.
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.
