How F1 driver academies support developing drivers is just some of what is covered in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. You will also find out why Kelvin van der Linde is GT racing, learn about the new Formula Africa and the importance of building a team of trusted advisors. All this and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Why Kelvin Van der Linde Feels At Home GT Racing
Kelvin van der Linde explains to Pi Debrief why GT racing was where he naturally felt comfortable. “Van der Linde’s path differs from many modern drivers. He never pursued single-seaters as a primary objective. Instead, he committed early to touring cars and GT racing, a decision that shaped his entire career.”
Opportunity Risk Map for Young Drivers
The Pure Performance Group has created an opportunity risk map for young drivers.
This is the truth every young driver (and their parents) needs to hear:
•Ego kills: teams hire humans, not prima donnas
•Consistency matters: one fast lap doesn’t fool anyone
•Growth is survival: stay still, get left behind
Read the full post on Instagram here.
Do These Things at Track Day
Brandon Londono explains the things you must do when attending any track day. “Be honest. Are you training like you want to win or just hoping you do?” Read his full post on Instagram here.
The Importance of Building the Right Team
At the end of the day, the whole point of Motorsport Prospects is to help race drivers connect with professionals they can really trust. Because let’s face it—if you don’t have the right people around you, bad advice can end up costing you big time. We’re talking money, reputation, and missed chances—sometimes all three. That idea came to mind when I read Alex Palou’s recent statement about settling McLaren’s lawsuit over his contract dispute. (You can check out Autoweek’s summary of the case here.)
“I also recognise that the way events unfolded in the summer of 2023 could have been handled differently. While little of this is publicly known, I found myself pulled in various directions and had the wrong people around me back then who I believe did not have my best interests at heart. I believe back then that I was provided with the wrong advice or no advice at all.”
Remember this when you are evaluating the people you plan on working with. Use tools like Motorsport Prospects to help you build a trusted ecosystem of advisors to avoid costly mistakes like this.
GT Alternatives to Formula 1
VroomKart looks at GT racing alternatives to Formula 1 and why drivers should consider them. “If we want to keep it simple, it’s trivially a matter of numbers: there are 22 seats in F1 and the number of drivers who every year approach single-seaters from karting is far greater than the possibilities of that Racing pipeline to give a chance to everyone.” Read the complete article here.
How To Be A Pro Driver In 90 Seconds w/ IMSA’s John Doonan
TAG One Motorsport Launches Ambitious Six-Car Program in the Emzone Radical Cup Canada Presented by Michelin
Canadian motorsport reaches an exciting new milestone today with the official launch of TAG One Motorsport and its ambitious six- car program in the Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin. This bold initiative aims to actively contribute to the growth of professional motorsport in Canada, with a strong presence in Quebec.
Adding to the excitement, fans will be able to follow TAG One Motorsport throughout the season with race broadcasts of the Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin airing on RDS this summer. While 2026 will serve as a learning and structuring year, ambitions are already clear. The long-term objective is to expand the program to eight cars in the near future. Two young drivers will be continuing their development in karting and Radical testing programs, with additional sessions scheduled before the end of the year in preparation for next season.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship Celebrates a Decade of Success
As the FIA Formula 2 Championship marks its tenth season, the championship proudly reflects on a decade that has firmly established it as the definitive final step to Formula 1 and a cornerstone of the FIA single-seater pyramid. Read here about the 10 years of recent history of the FIA Formula 2 championship.
F1 Academy: An Overview of the First Three Seasons
Before heading into the first race of the 2026 F1 Academy season in Shanghai, Mlle Racing takes a trip down memory lane to explore the past three seasons of the F1 Academy, to its changes, and the talented female drivers who worked hard to be able to reach this moment.
Lewis Hamilton Opens Up About Living With ADHD
even-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has shared that he lives with ADHD, offering a glimpse into how it sometimes shapes his life away from the racetrack. The British driver, who now races for Scuderia Ferrari, spoke about how small details in his surroundings can quickly capture his attention and pull him into moments of intense focus. Read what he has to say here.
Formula E celebrates International Women’s Day
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026, Formula E continues to champion women in motorsport as part of a broader long-term strategy to remove barriers and expand opportunities in the championship. Read more about their various programs and initiatives here.
Formelaustria Race Academy launches “Candidate Driver” Membership
Effective immediately, the Formelaustria Race Academy offers a so called “candidate driver” membership.
This is second membership category meant to support upcoming talents with initial management and marketing tools as well as media training and presentation opportunities, so that they can raise awareness and gain sponsorship funds mid-term.
Here are the details to the package
Candidate Driver Membership (2026 Racing Season)
- They will create a driver presentation deck for you
- They will issue a press release about your membership in German and in English
- They will feature you on our websites Raceacademy.net, Formelaustria.at and our social media channels
- You will receive initial management support, so that you can better approach potential partners
- You will receive one media training session, held by a former F1 communications expert
- You will receive two tickets to the annual Formelaustria Gala, meeting F1 stars like Kevin Magnussen, Jost Capito, Niels Wittich or Riccardo Patrese
- You will receive two tickets to a Formula 4 race weekend, including paddock and team pit box access
- You will receive basic Formelaustria Race Academy merchandise, e.g. beanie, t-shirt, etc.
Annual Fee EUR 2,500 net
To learn more about our program, you can watch our documentary RACE ACADEMY – A True Motorsport Story, which will be available in full on ORF, Puls4 JOYN, Motorvision, Eurosport or Amazon Prime in the next couple of weeks.
Contact them at office@formelaustria.at for any further questions.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
How Does F1 Driver Academy Support Shift as Drivers Rise on the Ladder?
In recent years, being part of a Formula 1 driver academy has become an essential factor for young talents on a quest to reach F1. Feeder Series spoke to multiple drivers to grasp how their progress shapes the academies’ support.
“Drivers are often scouted as early as their karting days. That was the case for this year’s F1 rookie Arvid Lindblad, the most recent graduate of the Red Bull Junior Team, who was scouted in 2020 at just 13 years of age.”
Read the full article here.
Oleksandr Bondarev Reveals Vital Williams F1 Driver Academy Support
Williams Junior Oleksandr “Sasha” Bondarev spoke to Motorsport Week about moving from Karting to single-seaters as he fights for the Italian F4 title this year and the impact being part of the Williams Driver Academy has had on his career. “Being in the Williams [F1 Driver] Academy is kind of the best path if I want to reach Formula One. So having their support is already a massive step in the right direction.”
Formula Africa Launches
Formula Africa has launched to support the next generation of talent based on the African continent.
Formula Africa has launched to support the next generation of talent based on the African continent.
Africa’s next generation deserves to be drivers
Not just spectators …
The goal is clear
We build the pathway so Africa’s talent sits behind the wheel
Not in the stands
Motorsport in Africa should not just be watched
It should be driven
It should be tangible
It should be touchable
The dream is not just to watch Formula 1
It is to race in it
To show the world
Africa has the talent
So NOW we must build the tracks
More details can be found here.
Motorsport UK Academy Graduates Amongst Five Brits on the Grid for F1 Season-Opener
Motorsport UK highlights Motorsport UK Academy graduates racing in Formula 1 in 2026. “British fans have plenty to celebrate, with an unrivalled five home-grown drivers on the grid – the highest full-season number since Damon Hill’s 1996 title-winning season… six, if you include Alex Albon, who was born and raised in the UK but now races under the Thai flag.” Read who the drivers are here.
Alex Dunne joins Alpine Academy, Melvin Kalousdian added to RBJT
Alpine has announced on the eve of the Formula 2 season that Alex Dunne has joined its Academy, while Melvin Kalousdian has been added to the Red Bull Junior Team. Read all the details at Formula Scout here.
Introducing IMSA’s 2026 3D Scholarship Winner Nicky Hays!
The Huntington Beach, California native—who also holds Filipino citizenship—will move into the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class in 2026 with Random Vandals Racing after impressing the selection committee with his on-track growth and detailed business plan.
After competing in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and building experience through sports car development programs, Hays’ persistence paid off. A finalist in 2024, he reapplied with more experience and a clearer vision for his career path. Inspired by his mother’s journey to the U.S. and mentors like Patrick Long and Kenton Koch, Hays now takes the next step up the IMSA ladder.
The IMSA 3D Scholarship supports drivers from diverse backgrounds with funding, industry training, and backing from partners including Michelin, VP Racing Fuels, OMP, Bell, Recaro, RAFA Racing Club, and LAT Images.
On the Podcast
Learn Your Craft With Enzo Mucci
On the latest episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, I speak with motorsport mental performance coach Enzo Mucci who explains the importance of learning your craft.
Key topics we cover:
- Why you need to focus on learning the craft of how to drive.
- Why you need to be patient.
- Why his advice will pay dividends in the end.
- The role of parents in a young racers’ career.
- Tips on approaching sponsors.
- Plus much more!
Additional Resources Mentioned:
The episode webpage can be found here:
You can subscribe to the podcast through all the popular podcast apps as well as on its own dedicated website here. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date on everything Motorsport Prospects!
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Smart Funding Strategies for Aspiring Racers
Smart funding strategies for aspiring race drivers is the focus of last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. You will find out various techniques to fund a racing season as well as details on sponsorship ROI and much more!
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Tag One Motorsport Launches with Sim Racing Playing an Integral Role
Tag One Motorsport has launched to race in the Radical Cup Canada with sim racing an integral part of the program. I have all the details in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. You will also peek inside an F2 simulator, find out why Team Redline is important to Max Verstappen and much more!
Driver Journeys
Inside the SCCA Podcast: B-Spec National Champ Eric Yagel
In Episode 259 of Inside the SCCA, Brian Bielanski sits down with 2025 B-Spec National Champion Eric Yagel to break down his journey through grassroots racing, endurance battles, and the strategy it took to win big at SCCA Runoffs. From his first chaotic laps at Texas World Speedway to dominating at Road America, this episode dives deep into real racecraft, tire science, drafting tactics, and how to actually get faster. You’ll hear why racing in the rain makes you faster, how spec classes really work behind the scenes, and the mindset shift that separates mid-pack drivers from champions. If you race, sim race, or want to start racing — this episode is a masterclass.
How A 15-Year-Old Built A Sprint Car Dream And A Support Network
At just 15 years old, Brielle Stern is already carving out her place in the competitive world of 600 micro sprint racing. From selling cookies to fund her first race car to traveling across the country chasing dirt tracks, Brielle’s journey is fueled by grit, family support, and big dreams.
In this episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, Brielle shares how a trip to the racetrack changed her life at eight years old, how she balances high school and technical machining classes with racing, and why she believes motorsports teaches girls independence and resilience.
She also opens up about overcoming adversity — including knee surgery, social media criticism, and learning how to communicate car setup with her team — all while chasing her first feature win.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Jason Pribyl Advances to GB3 Championship, Strengthening America’s Presence on the Formula 1 Development Ladder
Chicago suburb Glenview, native Jason Pribyl is set to take another major step in his international racing career as he moves into the GB3 Championship with Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing for the 2026 season. The promotion places the 20‑year‑old American firmly on the European pathway toward Formula 1, continuing a steady rise that began long before he ever set foot on a British circuit.
Read about his racing journey here.