Kimi Antonelli has just been crowned Formula 1 World Champion and in this week’s Driver Development Roundup you will learn how he got there. I also have details on Winfield Racing School, the Duqueine Academy shootout and more!
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
The Importance of Trust When Working with Professionals
Last week on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast featured Dr. Harold Ian Miltner. Harry is the Founder & Managing Director HM Sports an international sports consultant and the founder of the Formelaustria Race Academy. We talk about a wide range of topics including motorsport sponsorship, the differences between sim racing and real-world racing and why you need to trust the professionals working to help build your career.
Listen to the full episode here!
Kimi Antonelli: Lessons in Developing a Future F1 Star
Kimi Antonelli’s rapid rise in Formula 1 offers a compelling case study in what it takes for a young driver to reach the top of motorsport. This ExperiencesXO article examines the talent, development, competitive mindset and support systems behind his success, highlighting how early preparation and the right environment can help turn exceptional potential into elite-level performance.
The story also explores Mercedes’ decision to sign Antonelli to its junior program at just 12 years old, the importance of family support, and Toto Wolff’s willingness to take a risk on an exceptionally young talent. There are valuable lessons here for drivers, parents and development programs about identifying potential, making long-term commitments and creating the right environment for success.
The Formula 1 website also features Toto Wolff discussing Antonelli’s development. You can watch it here.
New Team, New Car, New Tracks: Nissan Formula E Team’s Zane Maloney Looks Ahead to Season 13
As the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship prepares to enter the GEN4 era, Zane Maloney faces a new challenge with Nissan Formula E Team and brings valuable experience to the task. The 23-year-old joins 2024/25 Drivers’ World Champion Oliver Rowland for Season 13, having already competed in Formula E and established himself as a race winner in junior categories, including Formula 2. With a new generation of car bringing fresh challenges and opportunities for the entire grid, Maloney shares his first impressions of GEN4, his approach to adapting to new machinery and his ambitions for the season ahead. Read his thoughts here.
AJ Foyt Racing’s Schuh Takes Next Single-Seater Steps with FR Oceania Trophy Entry
AJ Foyt Racing development driver Aidan Schuh will compete in the 2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy series in New Zealand this January. The four-round championship begins at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and concludes with the 71st NAPA New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsports Park.
Schuh, 23, is racing in the Formula Regional Americas Championship this season with Crosslink Motorsports, which partnered with AJ Foyt Racing earlier this year as part of the team’s driver development program which also includes the INDY NXT by Firestone series.
Miami to Host Formula E Rookie Test and FP Sessions
Miami will host the traditional Formula E rookie test day next February in addition to a free practice session prior to the second E-Prix to be held at the circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium. The venue hosted an extra free practice for rookie drivers last January, with rookie GEN4 race drivers Zak O’Sullivan and Theo Pourchaire taking part in the session.
Miami will now host both this initiative and the full test day, which has been held at the Berlin Tempelhof venue for the last three seasons.
Callum Voisin Joins Andretti Formula E as Official Development Driver
Speaking of the Formula E rookie test, Callum Voisin is taking the next step in his journey with Andretti Formula E, joining the team as its Official Development Driver ahead of the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season.
Following his outing with the American outfit at the Official Rookie Test in Madrid earlier this year, the British-Swiss driver will become a key part of the team’s simulator program and race preparation, supporting Jake Dennis, Felipe Drugovich and the engineering team as the series enters its GEN4 era.
Formula 2: How to Pass F1’s Biggest Audition, and What Happens When You Still Don’t Land the Job
What does it take to make the leap from Formula 2 to Formula 1? Beyond outright pace and championship results, F1 teams assess consistency, adaptability, mental strength and timing. Explore what teams look for in prospective drivers, why an F2 title doesn’t guarantee an F1 seat, and how drivers can turn their junior careers into opportunities across other professional racing series. Read more at FanAmp here.
Ron Fellows: From Broke Racer to Corvette Legend
Ron Fellows joins Racers Unchained host Paul Tracy for a wide-ranging conversation about an incredible racing career that took him from struggling to make a living in open-wheel racing to becoming a three-time IMSA champion, two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Daytona 24 winner, 12 Hours of Sebring winner and one of the most successful road-course racers in NASCAR.
LN4 Fusion Confirmed for Formula 2 Entry in 2027, Taking Over from AIX
LN4 Fusion has confirmed they will compete in FIA Formula 2 in 2027, taking over from AIX Racing, after a successful application process. In early September it was confirmed that the team, founded by 2025 Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris, would compete in FIA Formula 3 while also entering the selection process to line up on the Formula 2 grid in 2027.
Having acquired assets from the former AIX team it was confirmed that LN4 Fusion would take over from AIX in Formula 2 as well, lining up on the F2 grid for the championship’s 2027-2029 cycle.
Costa Joins LN4 Fusion for 2027 FIA Formula Regional European Championship
LN4 Fusion announces that Brazilian-American racer Miguel Costa will join the team for the 2027 FIA Formula Regional European Championship.
Costa began competing at an early age in the USA and later moved to European karting, taking part in the most challenging international competitions with encouraging results.
In 2025, he made the step up single-seater racing, contesting the Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship and the F4 Spanish Championship, where he scored four rookie podiums and a P2 overall to cap his debut season in car racing.
For 2026, he moved to Formula Regional with promising results. He finished P2 in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy, taking a rookie win in his debut weekend at Abu Dhabi before making his debut in the Formula Regional European Championship.
For his second year in the series, he will be part of the inaugural class of drivers when LN4 Fusion makes its historic debut.
From Karting to F1 Academy: The Pathway for Women on the Single-Seater Ladder
What does the pathway from karting to F1 Academy look like for aspiring female drivers? This article from Sports In Transit explores the growing range of development opportunities, from grassroots karting and mixed-gender academy programs to F4 and F1 Academy. It also examines the support available to young female racers and how F1 Academy can serve as a stepping stone to higher levels of single-seater competition.
F1 Publishes First Social Impact Report; Key Student Scholarship Renewed
Formula 1 has published its first sport-wide Social Impact Report, with over half a million young people across the world having benefited from F1 programs last year.
In initiatives designed to educate, inspire and open pathways into the sport in 2025, youngsters from across 71 countries were able to take a step closer to F1.
F1 has also renewed its now-established Engineering Scholarship program, which was founded in 2021, for three academic years, promising more than £2.4 million in funding. The initiative helps relieve students who would otherwise face key barriers to higher education, including financial and accessibility obstacles. 48 students have already been supported by the program.
Full tuition fees and living costs will be covered for ten new scholars each year between 2026/27 and 2028/29 at the University of Strathclyde, Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and MUNER in Italy.
Nominations are Now Open for the 2026 FIA Women in Motorsport Award
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has announced that nominations are now open for the 2026 FIA Women in Motorsport Award and FIA Empowering Disabled Motorsport Award. The winners will be announced during FIA General Assemblies Week, held in Shanghai, China, this December.
This award recognizes those advancing female participation and increasing the visibility of women across the sport, from drivers to officials, engineers, managers and beyond.
Whether you’re an individual, a team, or an ASN, this year’s award could be yours.
Full details can be found here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
From Training to Competition – The Link Between Winfield Racing School and the Ultimate Cup European Series
How can drivers turn racing school experience into real competitive opportunities? In this article, Winfield Racing School explains how its driver development program connects directly to competition through the Ultimate Cup European Series and Hoosier Formula Cup. It highlights why applying coaching, technical feedback and race preparation under real competitive pressure is essential to driver development. There is also a tangible career incentive: the Hoosier Formula Cup Rookie Champion receives a prize package valued at €100,000 toward entry into the European Endurance Prototype Cup, subject to promoter confirmation.
Stage is Set for Fifth Annual PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout
Eight Aspiring Driver Shootout finalists will be on their way to New Jersey Motorsport Park in early November, ready to vie for the chance to join the team’s junior squad and earn financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) toward their racing career.
If those finalists are looking for an example of how the Aspiring Driver Shootout can change a younger racer’s trajectory, they need look no further than last year’s winner: 22-year-old Luis Beilicke came into the Shootout as a leading sim racer, with no racing experience. Under PT Autosport’s mentorship, Beilicke dominated the UK-based Ginetta GT Academy series’ rookie class, capturing a record setting 16 wins in 18 races on his way to the championship title.
The Shootout will take place November 2-4 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The candidates will undergo an extensive series of examinations to decide the winner, including media, driving (including sim work) and fitness testing on the first day, then two days of driving – with the evaluation process taking place throughout the entire shootout. PT Autosport co-founder, lead driver and development head Alex Sedgwick will lead the team evaluating all aspects of the finalists’ performance – both on and off the racetrack.
PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers and the rest of the Shootout management team has a curve ball in store for this year’s finalists – who are well advised to come to NJMP prepared.
“I’m particularly excited about this year’s group of shootout candidates, mainly because of the continued diversity with interest from all corners of the globe,” said Myers. “Their varied backgrounds and levels of experience are going to make for an exciting Shootout.
“I will say that I think all of the candidates should heed the advice of physical conditioning beforehand,” warned Myers. “We are partnering with Jim Leo and his amazing organization PitFit, so we’ll be putting them through the paces and making cuts much more quickly, based on how seriously they’ve taken that aspect of pre-Shootout preparation. I think they are in store for quite possibly the toughest and most physically demanding Shootout yet. The competition will be fierce, and cuts will be made at any time during the Shootout.”
PT Autosport is dedicated to increasing the presence of junior drivers in the motorsports industry that come from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Paramount to this mission is creating career development opportunities and forming an educational, competitive, and supportive environment for all team members, allowing them to grow and learn.
The team’s multi-tiered development program begins with the Aspiring Driver Shootout. The winner will receive extensive coaching and racing experience designed to help him or her progress to an advanced racing series within the team’s structure, or with one of the team’s operational partners.
More details on this year’s participants can be found here.
Duqueine Academy 2027: Six Drivers Compete for a Seat
The Duqueine Academy by Debard Automobiles continues its commitment to developing the next generation of endurance racing drivers. Following the success of its inaugural edition, won by Jules Caranta, the program is entering a new chapter with six drivers under the age of 25 selected to compete for an exceptional opportunity in 2027.
The prize is a €150,000 grant (excluding VAT) to support the winning driver in a 2027 racing program with a team competing in an ACO-sanctioned championship, at the wheel of a DUQUEINE D09 LMP3.
Selected from a competitive group of applicants, the six candidates will meet on 23–24 November 2026 at the Pôle Mécanique d’Alès, France, for a decisive shootout. Beyond outright speed, the selection process will assess each driver’s consistency, technical understanding and ability to work effectively with an engineering team.
Full details can be found here.
More Than Equal: The Science Behind Developing Female Racing Talent
What does it take to develop the next generation of female racing talent? This article from Mlle Racing explores how More than Equal is using science, research and data-driven development to identify and nurture female drivers with Formula 1 potential. It examines the organisation’s holistic approach to developing the complete driver, combining racecraft, technical skills, physical conditioning and mental resilience. It also highlights how performance research can help tailor training to individual needs and create more effective pathways for women progressing through motorsport.
Ferrari Academy Adds Campos F3 Recruit Hanna, Aksoy and Karter Miron
The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy has announced the names and programmes of its 2027 drivers, including new members Salim Hanna, Alp Aksoy and karter Daniel Miron. At the same time, Campos Racing confirmed that the Colombian will join the team for the step up to FIA Formula 3.
Racing Women and Valour Racing Enter into Global Commercial Collaboration
Racing Women has entrusted Valour Racing to support the continued development and progression of its drivers within competitive motorsport.
As an ambitious team building its presence across the sport, Valour Racing will provide the competitive environment, technical expertise and race experience needed to help Racing Women drivers take the next step in their careers.
With a shared focus on developing talent and creating meaningful opportunities for women in motorsport, the relationship will focus on supporting drivers as they progress from development programs into competitive racing, with a particular ambition to create pathways into endurance racing.
Looking further ahead, both organizations share the ambition of working towards the challenge of Le Mans, providing a longer-term goal for the continued development of female racing talent.
This marks an important step in Racing Women’s commitment to creating opportunities beyond initial driver development, with Valour Racing providing a platform for female drivers to gain competitive experience and progress towards the next stage of their racing careers.
Kimi Antonelli Reveals Plans to Launch his Own Racing Academy Outside F1
Newly crowned F1 World Champion is already looking ahead beyond his current racing season. In a recent sit-down with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Antonelli revealed that he is already plotting his next massive move outside the F1 paddock: building his own driver academy.
“We want to build an academy for young people so they get a chance in motorsport,” Antonelli told AMUS. “Motorsport is a great but difficult world. It is not easy to get opportunities there. We want to help young drivers get a chance.”
On the Podcast This Week
Inside Driver Management with Jason Fulk
Choosing the right manager can have a significant impact on your racing career, but how do you know what to look for and what should you expect them to deliver? This week on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, lawyer and driver manager Jason Fulk joins me to explain what a driver manager actually does, the value they should bring to your career, and the key things to consider before hiring one.
The episode drops November 4 at 10:00 AM EST. Listen and subscribe here.
Karting
American Kart Manufacturers Inc. Launches Paul Tracy Kart Chassis Line with 2003 CART Champion Paul Tracy
American Kart Manufacturers Inc (AKM) has announced the launch of its newest chassis brand, Paul Tracy Kart (PTK), developed in partnership with 2003 CART champion Paul Tracy.
Tracy’s role goes well beyond lending his name to the brand. He will lead AKM’s development driver evaluations and work directly with AKM management on commercial and manufacturing decisions as the brand grows. PTK also gives top karting drivers a structured, in-house program at AKM to help them transition into junior open-wheel categories.
“I’m excited to bring the PTK brand back to karting in partnership with American Kart Manufacturers,” said Tracy. “Karting is where my racing career began, and teaming up with an American manufacturer that shares my passion for performance, quality and developing the next generation of racers makes this partnership special. Our goal is to build more than just great karts. We want to create a pathway for young drivers to succeed in motorsports.”
MSA Karting Management Group Outlines Proposed 2027 South African Karting Championship Program
Four national rounds, nine championship classes and a full regional calendar are proposed for the 2027 season. The Motorsport South Africa (MSA) Karting Management Group has outlined its proposed program for the 2027 South African Karting Championship (SAKC), giving competitors, parents and teams an early look at the season ahead.
From Bambino racers taking their first steps in competition to experienced KZ Shifter drivers, the proposed program caters for a wide range of age groups, with national and regional racing planned at venues across South Africa.
Full details can be found here.
FAT Karting League Midwest Championships Open for Bookings
The FAT Karting League has announced that they are now accepting bookings for the Midwest 2027 Regional & Pro Championship. More details can be found here.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Motorsport Sponsorship: Lessons from Real-World Deals
Motorsport sponsorship is often best learned from real-world examples, and I have two in last week’s new Sponsor Watch on the Business of Being a Race Driver. I also have advice on what brands want, how to network and much more.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
NASCAR and Logitech G Partner to Support Sim Racing
NASCAR and Logitech G have partnered to support both sim racing and real-life driver development, and I had the details in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. You will also learn how a driver sets up a virtual test session for learning a real-life track and much more!
Driver Journeys
Lights On: Milla Sjöstrand
What does it take to turn a passion for racing into a professional motorsport career? Lights Out Magazine shines a spotlight on Swedish racing talent Milla Sjöstrand, exploring her journey through the junior racing ranks, her ambitions to reach Formula 1 and the work required to progress in a highly competitive sport. Her story offers an interesting look at the determination, commitment and opportunities needed to develop as a young female driver.
Jackson Culver: The Record-Setting Kiwi Who Won AU4’s Three-Way Gen1 Showdown
Out at Queensland Raceway, Jackson Culver emerged victorious from a three-way title fight in the Gen1 class to become New Zealand’s first AU4 champion. Now preparing to step up to Gen2 in 2027, the 15-year-old spoke with Feeder Series about the calculated approach that secured his title and the lessons he’ll carry into the next chapter.
Jak Crawford: The Texan Knocking on Formula 1’s Door
Jak Crawford’s journey from karting in Texas to becoming Aston Martin’s Formula 1 reserve driver offers valuable insights into the pathway to the top of motorsport. This Yahoo Sports profile traces his progression through the Red Bull and Aston Martin junior programs, his impressive Formula 2 results and the opportunities that came with joining an F1 team. Crawford also discusses what he is learning from working alongside Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, particularly the importance of understanding car development, engineering collaboration and contributing to a team’s long-term success. A useful look at what aspiring drivers need to do beyond simply delivering results on track.
For Josh Pierson, the IndyCar Dream was Always About Perseverance
Josh Pierson has become the latest Indy NXT driver to earn an IndyCar seat, having signed with AJ Foyt Racing for the 2027 season. Before his big move, Feeder Series sat down with Pierson to discuss his time in Indy NXT, the experience he gained in endurance racing and the deep-rooted family support guiding him to the top.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. 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.
