Brando Badoer has joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme, conjoined with signing for Prema Racing for next season’s Formula 3 championship.
The 18-year-old has impressed the Woking outfit after a year’s evaluation and has exercised its option to sign Badoer permanently, joining the likes of former alumni Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Nyck de Vries.
Badoer also sees his relationship with Prema continue into F3 for next year after impressing in this season’s Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine with the Italian squad.
With two rounds of the FRECA series left, Badoer currently sits fifth in the standings after a string of impressive drives, including a run of six podiums in succession.
In a statement released by McLaren, Badoer said: “I am excited to join the McLaren Driver Development programme. 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 FIA 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 colours.”
In Prema’s statement, Team Principal Rene Rosin said: “Brando is a very interesting prospect, and we are delighted to give him an opportunity for 2025.
“We have kept an eye on him because we noticed his potential from F4 to FRECA, and we saw him make an impressive step this season.
“Formula 3 will be challenging, as it usually is, but he has the right attitude to quickly gel with the team and series.”
Badoer is following in the footsteps of his father Luca, who raced sporadically in Formula 1 between 1993 and 2009, driving for teams including Minardi and Forti, as well as a long and successful spell as a test driver for Ferrari.
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