MCLAREN ADDS MATTEO DE PALO TO THEIR ACADEMY PROGRAM
McLaren has added a new young talent to its Driver Academy: Italian Matteo De Palo. His arrival comes at an important moment for the team, as several other juniors prepare to leave the program at the end of the year.
De Palo has grown quickly through the junior series. He first drew attention in the Spanish F4, where he showed strong results with Campos. After moving up to Formula Regional cars, he continued to improve step by step. His breakthrough came this season in FRECA.
Racing against a very strong field, he fought for the title all year long, often wheel-to-wheel with British driver Freddie Slater, who became his main rival in the championship battle. The Italian ended up losing the title battle and finished second with 4 wins, 36 points behind Freddie.
De Palo’s performance in the FRECA title fight showcased his speed and made him a natural target for McLaren’s junior program. He will step up to FIA Formula 3 with Trident for the 2026 season, joining his British rival from FRECA.
At the same time, the academy is facing changes. Martinius Stenshorne, Ugo Ugochukwu, and Brando Badoer are all leaving McLaren. The main reason is said to be limited space in Formula 1 in the coming years, and McLaren cannot guarantee a future seat for all its young drivers. With no clear path forward, the three drivers are choosing to look for new opportunities.
Among them, Ugo Ugochukwu appears to be the closest to finding a new home. He has been linked with Red Bull as per our information, which is known for moving young drivers quickly up the ladder. Nothing is official yet, but the possibility is strong, as he will drive with Campos Racing in Formula 3 next year.
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