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McLaren Driver Development Programme
Program to support young racing drivers through their careers
McLaren Driver Development Programme
The McLaren Driver Development Programme, formerly known as the McLaren Young Driver Programme, is a driver development programme operated by McLaren. It is intended to offer year-by-year guidance, assistance and endorsement to help promising young racers climb the motorsport ladder. The programme was also formerly known as the McLaren-Honda Young Driver Programme and the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme, reflecting engine deals with Honda and Mercedes, respectively. As of 2026, 10 former programme drivers have progressed to Formula One, with four graduating directly with McLaren: Lewis Hamilton in 2007, Kevin Magnussen in 2014, Stoffel Vandoorne in 2016, and Lando Norris in 2019. Hamilton and Norris have each won a Formula One World Drivers' Championship (2008 and 2025, respectively) and multiple Grands Prix with McLaren. Hamilton, one of the programme's first and most notable participant, won the drivers' championship seven times between 2008 and 2020.
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