Ex-F1 racer Luca Badoer’s son Brando joins McLaren Driver Development programme and gets set for F3 promotion

Brando Badoer, son of ex-Formula 1 racer Luca, has joined the McLaren Driver Development programme as he continues his own journey in motorsport.

It marks a milestone moment for the Badoer family, with Luca having raced in F1 for Scuderia Italia, Minardi and Forti across the 1990s, and made two appearances for Ferrari in 2009 as an initial replacement for the injured Felipe Massa.

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McLaren Racing had already signed an option on Brando, who currently competes in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), and decided to exercise it following “a 12-month period of evaluation”.

Badoer made his single-seater debut in 2022, contesting full seasons in UAE and Italian F4. He continued in both championships for 2023, scoring five podium finishes in the Italian series and placing sixth in the overall standings.

The 18-year-old Italian claimed three podiums during the 2024 pre-season in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, while his latest move to FRECA with Van Amersfoort Racing has yielded seven rostrums and leaves him fifth in the standings ahead of the final round.

As part of his progression through the McLaren Driver Development programme, Badoer is set to compete for Prema Racing in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship alongside another of the team’s junior drivers in Ugo Ugochukwu.

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

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“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.”

Stephanie Carlin, Director of F1 Business Operations at McLaren Racing, welcomed Badoer’s arrival, adding: “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 programme 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.”