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McLaren signs F3 champion Bortoleto to young driver program
McLaren has signed 2023 FIA Formula 3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto to its driver development program, and has also secured an option on Italian F4 driver Brando Badoer.
Bortoleto won this year’s F3 title at the final round in Monza in his rookie season, and has now been signed alongside Pato O’Ward, Ryo Hirakawa and Ugo Ugochukwu as part of the McLaren driver development set-up.
“I’m excited to be joining the McLaren Driver Development program,” Bortoleto said. “I’m grateful to McLaren and Emanuele (Pirro) for giving me this opportunity.
“I’ve already been in the MTC for a tour and to meet the team, which was a really nice experience. I’m looking forward to continuing working on my development alongside a great team.”
Pirro is the director of the program that was formed earlier this year, and said he has been following Bortoleto throughout his time in racing, and is also keen to take a closer look at the son of former Formula 1 driver Luca Badoer.
“I’m pleased to welcome Gabriel to the McLaren Driver Development program,” Pirro said. “I’ve known him well since the beginning of his motorsport career and he’s got all that is needed on and off track to be a star. He also fits very well with our team culture at McLaren. I look forward to working with Gabriel and helping him develop in his motorsport career.
“I also look forward to working with Brando Badoer, who we sign as an Optioned Driver, as we continue to evaluate him over the next year.
“They join our talented line-up of drivers who we will be working with on their individual development, to give them the tools they need to progress in their careers.”
McLaren says it will assess Badoer and then has the option to sign him to the program full-time at the end of its evaluation.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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