McLaren has announced that it will part ways with junior drivers Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne, and Brando Badoer at the end of this year, the trio leaving the McLaren Driver Development Programme.<\/p>\n
The departures were confirmed in the announcement that McLaren has added Matteo De Palo to its academy.<\/p>\n
Three out, one in at McLaren\u2019s junior programme<\/p>\n
Dubbed by some as the \u2018next Lewis Hamilton\u2019, Ugochukwu joined the McLaren<\/a> junior programme in 2021 as a 13-year-old with the team\u2019s website labelling him \u2018one of the hottest prospects in junior motorsport\u2019.<\/p>\n Five years down the line, after a P16 with Prema in his first season in Formula 3 in which he secured two podiums but never climbed onto the top step, the Woking team is bidding farewell to the 18-year-old.<\/p>\n Stenshorne is also leaving the programme after just two years, having been signed after finishing second to Kimi Antonelli in the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship.<\/p>\n Badoer, the son of ex-Formula 1 driver Luca Badoer, is also on his way out having joined in 2024.<\/p>\n Despite the trio winning multiple races and securing podiums during their time with McLaren, the Woking team will be saying farewell to them at the end of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thank Ugo, Martinius and Brando for their contribution to McLaren and wish them the best for the future,\u201d Alessandro Alunni Bravi, McLaren\u2019s Chief Business Affairs Officer, said.<\/p>\n F1 2025: Key information<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 schedule: When is the next race and where is it being held?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0The results of the F1 2025 championship <\/a><\/p>\n McLaren also announced that De Palo had joined the programme, the 18-year-old signed on the back of his runner-up result in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship. <\/p>\n Alunni Bravi said: \u201cThe McLaren Driver Development Programme is pleased to welcome Matteo. He is an exciting young talent who has made great progress over the past seasons, showing adaptability, consistency and growth. <\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to supporting his development across driving, as well as the wider aspects of being a professional driver, within our programme pathway.\u201d<\/p>\n De Palo joins IndyCar driver Pato O\u2019Ward, Formula 4 driver Dries Van Langendonck, and Formula Academy\u2019s Ella Lloyd at the McLaren Driver Development Programme.<\/p>\n \u201cJoining the McLaren Driver Development Programme is a great honour,\u201d he said. \u201cThe team have a fantastic track record for developing talent, so I am excited to grow across all elements of being a racing driver. <\/p>\n \u201cThank you to Zak, Alessandro and the entire McLaren team. I am excited to get out on track in papaya.\u201d<\/p>\n De Palo will contest the 2025 Macau Grand Prix in papaya before stepping up to Formula 3 Championship in 2026 with Trident.<\/p>\n Ugochukwu, Stenshorne, and Badoer aren\u2019t the first junior drivers to leave McLaren this season after Alex Dunne parted ways with McLaren in a shock announcement<\/a> back in October.<\/p>\n It\u2019s understood that a major stumbling point was a failure between both sides to reach agreement on what the future looked like for Dunne.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom today, I\u2019ve mutually decided to part ways with the McLaren Driver Development programme,\u201d Dunne said in a post on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to thank every individual at McLaren who has helped me develop and improve as a driver. To have my first opportunity to drive an F1 car, followed by two FP1 sessions, is something I\u2019ll always hold very close to my heart. I wish them all the best for the future. Thank you, Papaya family. Still two important rounds left to focus on this year, very excited for what\u2019s to come.\u201d<\/p>\n