What made Max Verstappen so good at such a young age? That is part of what is covered in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have advice from Lewis Hamilton, inspiration from Robert Wickens and a driver shootout you can participate in.
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
What made Max Verstappen so special that he was able to jump into Formula 1 at 17 years old and be competitive? Edd Straw in Autosport looks into it. ““It’s natural talent and it’s education,” he says. “The way he overtakes is natural talent but there are things you have to do to understand that talent. You have to teach them, analyse overtaking, watch F1. He is always watching what to do and how to overtake other people.”
The Ligier JS Cup France launched its seventh season on March 7 and 8 at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. The first meeting was punctuated by fine sporting performances and a well-stocked grid, including the confirmed participation of many young drivers in the Junior classification created in 2024.
As part of the French manufacturer’s Ligier Junior Programme, the series launched a Junior classification in 2024, open to drivers aged 16 to 26 wishing to take their first steps in endurance racing. After a successful first season with 13 drivers entered, the championship confirmed its appeal to young talent by renewing this figure in 2025.
Juniors benefit from specific support throughout the year, with performance monitoring tools and advice on how to progress. The Junior champion will win an exceptional prize: a Ligier JS P4 to take part in the following season’s Ligier European Series. A unique opportunity to continue climbing the endurance pyramid and aim for a new prize: €150,000 to enter the LMP3 category in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, at the wheel of the new Ligier JS P325.
Romain Boeckler, the first Junior class winner, is a perfect illustration of this dynamic. Winner of the 2024 title with the Loire Valley Racing team, he is making his Ligier European Series debut this season at the wheel of a Ligier JS P4 entered by the same outfit. A natural progression made possible with the support of the Ligier Junior Programme.
Discover the Ligier Junior Programme in the Ligier JS Cup France
Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton discusses taking risks in your career on the Get Hired podcast. “Everyone is different, so you can really only be guided by what works for you. As long as you follow your passions, find a challenge that makes sense for your life and that works with your skills, you’ll be fine. Don’t measure a ‘good’ job or success based on what you think you should do, look for something that will leave you fulfilled and leading the life you want to live.” You can read or listen to what Hamilton has to say here.
Despite receiving horrific injuries that left him partially disabled, Robert Wickens is taking on yet another motorsport challenge. This time it is the ADAC Ravenol 24 Hour Nurburgring race on June 21-22.
“As an athlete, I’m constantly seeking ways to push myself and explore new opportunities to grow and hone my skills,” said Wickens. “I’m always striving to be the best version of myself, both on and off the track. Hyundai, Bosch, and Bryan Herta Autosport have an incredible team spirit and I’m thrilled for this chance to return and compete in one of the world’s most demanding endurance races.”
Team BRIT has partnered with the British Motorsports Marshals Club (BMMC) to raise awareness and enhance the safety standards for disabled racing drivers. “… Whilst it was great to share the story of the team and our technology, what was most useful was to understand the procedures in place from their perspective when a disabled driver is competing, and to hear more about their own questions or concerns on how best to support a driver with a disability.”
Ryan Trutch has lived in the Middle East for 44 years and has worked in motorsport for the majority of that time – now, through ‘Pole Position’ – he wants to help Saudi Arabia build from the ground up to increase participation and exposure in the region. Read about his plans in Autosport.
During a press conference last Friday at Rockingham Speedway, Venturini Motorsports (VMS) announced the sale of the team to Nitro Motorsports. As part of the agreement, Nitro Motorsports will assume full ownership of the team and continue VMS’ longstanding partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing beginning Oct. 15, 2025. Current team owner Billy Venturini will remain on board as General Manager for one year, through the conclusion of the 2026 race season.
“Nitro Motorsports foundation has been built on driver development, a pillar of what Venturini Motorsports has been known for and curated,” said Nick Tucker of Nitro Motorsports. “My partner Joe (Tovo) and I understand the responsibility to carry on that legacy and the history that the Venturini family has poured their life’s work into and build on that for many years to come with Toyota GAZOO Racing. With the acquisition of Venturini Motorsports, Nitro becomes the most vertically integrated driver development program in the world starting with our premier cadet Go Karting program (Nitro Kart) as the ground floor with progression to cars with Toyota GR Cup, Trans Am and now ARCA.”
Learn fast if you want to be a champion in life.
The 2025 Teen Mazda Challenge registration is now open through April 30th, 2025. All registrations for 2025 must be complete by midnight April 30.
“We worked hard over the offseason with NASA to come up with a revised program that helps young drivers prepare for possible invitation to the Mazda Shootout, and helps deliver a competitive playing field with ample opportunity to win contingency prizes,” said Josh Smith, business development manager for Mazda Motorsports. “The revised program allows drivers to compete on a national level from any region regardless of how many TMC drivers are in their home region.”
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will host the third annual Electrify Your Career in Motorsports workshop, an immersive two-day program presented by Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) and Bosch. Taking place during the IMSA race weekend from May 9-11, the workshop is designed to inspire and equip women interested in exploring career opportunities in motorsports, particularly in STEM fields, and is open for applications now.
Available to all college and university students, the Electrify Your Career in Motorsports workshop will be hosted at three major racetracks in 2025. The program starts at Laguna Seca, an appropriate venue as the raceway’s newly appointed CEO, Lauri Eberhart, is a founding board member of WIMNA and recently launched a Monterey Chapter of the organization. This event aligns perfectly with WIMNA’s mission to Advance, Connect, and Enable (ACE) women across all motorsports industry sectors.
More details can be found here: https://womeninmotorsportsna.com/bosch-2025/
Driver Development Program News & Resources
In June 2024 HM Sports, which has been active in F1 for over 20 years, launched the Formelaustria Young Driver Programme by RMT. The two-year programme supports karting talents, but also top SimRacers in their transition to becoming Formula 4 drivers. You can find more information on the program at the following links:
- Formelaustria Young Driver Programme by RMT
- Miltner: “We offer F4 driver development at much lower cost while using F1 know-how”
- FormelAustria Young Driver Program is Nurturing the Next Generation of F1 Stars
Applications open for the PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout on April 23, 2025. The PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout is the ultimate test for future race car drivers, designed to challenge you on every aspect of what it takes to become a professional race car driver – not just driving. Anyone can enter, whether you’re a sim-racer, a karter, or someone with no experience racing at all.
“We’re searching for the person who has all the right attributes to make it as a professional race car driver: the passion, the work ethic, and the grit, but they just haven’t had the opportunity or the financial backing to start a career. Our 8 finalists will travel to New Jersey Motorsports Park this November to face 3 days of competition, where you’ll face fitness tests, media and marketability assessments, knowledge tests, and a variety of on track challenges in our new-for-2025 race cars to see if you have what it takes to start your racing career.”
April 1 marked 32 years since NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki tragically died in a plane crash during Bristol race weekend. In his memory, the Kulwicki Driver Development Program was established and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season.
The program aims to support and fund emerging drivers, helping them advance in their racing careers. Last season, the program celebrated a significant milestone when it produced its first champion. Ty Majeski, a member of the program’s inaugural class, became the Truck Series champion.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motor sport and the Federation for mobility organizations globally, launched FIA Girls On Track events at the FIA World Endurance Championship in Imola, Italy last weekend (17-20 April). Simultaneously, the FIA launched FIA CareerShift, to encourage young adults to pursue careers in motor sport.
FIA CareerShift, which was first launched in November 2024 at Bahrain, is aimed at 16-24 year olds interested in pursuing a range of careers within the world of motor sport. Participants have access to an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at an FIA World Championship event, with tailored workshops focused on sporting, sustainability, media, medical and event management aspects of the industry.
Get more information at the FIA website here.
Motorsport consultant and Formula Woman founder has announced the launch of Racing Women. “With our continued support for all the competitors who have been let down by FW, and in my quest to find a way to continue to support them as well as future women race drivers, Racing Women is now up and running on Instagram and will soon be followed by a website which is under construction.”
NASCAR has changed the name of its “Drive for Diversity” program to the Driver Development program. The change took place in the off-season and had been under consideration for the last couple years in a bid to broaden the program’s scope, per source.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Are using simulators a cost-effective way to launch a racing career? This question is frequently addressed in my weekly Sim Racing Roundup, and I had additional insights to share with you last week. You will also get an understanding on how sim racing helped Robert Wickens return to racing, why Max Verstappen has been told not to trust a sim and a look at Liam Lawson’s sim rig.
Driver Development Pathways
Nic Hamilton is back on the BTCC grid after a season and a half away. And, after a period of painful reflection, he wants to make it count – for himself and for other disabled people.
“This year I really wanted to use my platform to help inspire the industry to bring more disabled people into the sport,” he declares. “I’ve worked with a charity called We Are Beams, who provided me with some disabled individuals to stand next to my car [for the PR shoot], and I think it’s a powerful image to bring disabled people to the forefront. At the end of the day I am a disabled athlete; I think a lot of people forget that, but I really want to this year shout out about that and make people feel comfortable with their condition.”
Jessica Hawkins explains how she feels her racing career is just now about to start. “However, challenges like this provide big opportunities and I’m eager to grasp it with both hands because I know how important it will be for my development as a driver.”
On episode 220 of Inside the SCCA presented by RaceSchool.com, their guest is Rob Hines. “We talk with Rob about his impressive career both in pro racing and in the SCCA. The former Runoffs champion and Road Racing Driver’s Club member talks about what it takes to go fast in his T3 Nissan 350Z as the Spec Miata. We chat about what it takes to go pro racing… and what it’s like to be in the elite company of the Road Racing Drivers Club.”
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.
