F1 News: McLaren exercises option to sign Luca Badoer’s son

McLaren Racing today announced that it has exercised its option on Brando Badoer, welcoming the 18-year-old to the McLaren Driver Development program from October 2024.

Badoer is the son of Luca, who made 50 starts in F1, driving for Lola, Minardi, and Forti in the 1990s, as well as making two appearances for Ferrari as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa, a decade after his previous GP appearance.

It is the second time McLaren has signed an option on Brando, who will compete in Formula 3 in 2025 with Prema Racing, joining another McLaren development driver in the series in Ugo Ugochukwu.

The team had previously signed an option on the Italian who currently competes in Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). After a 12-month period of evaluation, McLaren has opted to exercise this option.

Brando made his single-seater debut in the 2022 Formula 4 UAE Championship, while also racing in the Italian Formula 4 series in the same year. In 2023, he continued in both championships, scoring five podiums in the Italian series, including two second-place finishes at Imola and Monza.

During the 2024 pre-season, Brando achieved three podiums in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, before moving up to FRECA with Van Amersfoort Racing. To date, the 18-year-old has achieved seven podiums with five second-place finishes and two third places.

Badoer said: “I am excited to join the McLaren Driver Development program. It’s a fantastic opportunity to join a team with such a great racing heritage and a proven record for developing talent.

“Competing in the 2025 Formula 3 championship with Prema Racing will help continue my progression, and I’d like to thank the whole team at McLaren for their support. I can’t wait to learn from the team’s guidance and get racing in the team’s iconic colors.”

Since breaking into single-seaters in 2022, Badoer has competed in a range of series, notably this year the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, and the Formula Regional European Championship, supported by Van Amersfoort Racing in the latter.

Badoer has scored seven podiums, including five times as a runner-up, to lie fifth in the standings with one round remaining.

Led by F1 Business Operations Director, Stephanie Carlin, the McLaren Driver Development program will see Brando join the team’s talent pipeline which has an overarching aim to help drivers develop towards Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E.

She said, “We’ve kept a close eye on him over the past year and have been impressed with his performances as a rookie in the competitive Formula Regional championship, so it made sense to exercise our option and bring him into the program full-time.

“We look forward to seeing him racing in papaya and supporting his development as he moves to compete in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema Racing.”