McLaren Racing Welcomes Rising Star Matteo De Palo to its Driver Development Programme

18-year-old Italian joins McLaren’s young driver roster ahead of 2025 Macau Grand Prix and 2026 FIA Formula 3 campaign

Woking, United Kingdom, November 10, 2025:
McLaren Racing today announced the addition of promising young Italian racer Matteo De Palo to its Driver Development Programme, further strengthening the team’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of racing talent across Formula 1, INDYCAR, and the World Endurance Championship.

At just 18 years old, De Palo joins McLaren’s development roster following an impressive rise through the junior single-seater ranks. Starting his motorsport journey in 2016, Matteo achieved strong results in WSK Super Master Series and the FIA Karting Academy Trophy, before making his single-seater debut in 2023 with Campos Racing in the Spanish F4 Championship. His debut season yielded one win, three additional podiums, and a fifth-place overall finish in the standings.

In 2024, the Rome-born driver stepped up to the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA), where he took a race win and a second-place finish. Competing with Trident Motorsport this year, De Palo delivered a standout performance — winning four races, securing seven further podiums, and finishing runner-up in the 2025 Championship.

He will make his debut in McLaren’s iconic papaya colours at the 2025 Macau Grand Prix, ahead of his move to FIA Formula 3 for the 2026 season.

A New Chapter in McLaren’s Driver Development Programme

De Palo joins McLaren’s structured development pathway under the leadership of Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer at McLaren Racing. The programme is designed to equip young drivers with not only on-track performance skills but also the professional and technical expertise needed to compete at the highest levels of global motorsport.

Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer, McLaren Racing, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Matteo to the McLaren Driver Development Programme. He is an exciting young talent who has made impressive progress in recent seasons, demonstrating adaptability, consistency, and growth. We look forward to supporting his development across all aspects of professional racing.

We also thank Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne, and Brando Badoer for their contributions to McLaren during their time in the programme and wish them every success for the future.”

Matteo De Palo: “A Great Honour to Join McLaren”

Matteo De Palo, McLaren Driver Development Programme, said:
“Joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme is a great honour. The team has an incredible history of developing world-class talent, and I am thrilled to be part of that legacy.
I look forward to learning from everyone at McLaren, both on and off the track. Thank you to Zak, Alessandro, and the entire McLaren team for this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to get out on track in papaya.”

McLaren Reshapes Its Development Line-Up

As part of the 2025 season transition, McLaren confirmed that Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne, and Brando Badoer will conclude their time with the Driver Development Programme at the end of the year. The trio achieved multiple race wins and podiums across their tenure, and McLaren extended its gratitude for their contributions and professionalism.

Nurturing Future Champions