Williams Driver Academy

Last updated

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Williams Driver Academy
Williams Racing Driver Academy Logo.png
FoundedWilliams Young Driver Programme (2016 (2016))
Williams Driver Academy (2019 (2019))
Base Grove, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Team principal(s) James Vowles (Team principal)
Current drivers
Indy NXT
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick
FIA Formula 2
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Zak O'Sullivan
Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Colapinto
FIA Formula 3
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Browning
FR European Championship
Flag of France.svg Alessandro Giusti
F1 Academy
Flag of the United States.svg Lia Block
Karting
Flag of Ukraine.svg Oleksandr Bondarev
Flag of Japan.svg Sara Matsui

The Williams Driver Academy is an initiative from Formula One team Williams to promote talent in different racing series by helping them with funds, with the hope of finding drivers who will race for the team in the future. [1] Notable graduates of the scheme are Lance Stroll, Nicholas Latifi, Jack Aitken and Logan Sargeant; who all made their F1 debuts with Williams.

Contents

Current drivers

DriverBeganCurrent seriesTitles as academy member
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Chadwick [2] [3] 2019 Indy NXT W Series (2019, 2021, 2022)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Zak O'Sullivan [4] 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship None as Williams Driver Academy member
Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Colapinto [5] 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship None as Williams Driver Academy member
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Browning [6] 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship FIA Formula 3 World Cup
Flag of Ukraine.svg Oleksandr Bondarev [7] 2023Karting (OK)None as Williams Driver Academy member
Flag of the United States.svg Lia Block [8] 2023 F1 Academy None as Williams Driver Academy member
Flag of France.svg Alessandro Giusti [9] 2024 Formula Regional European Championship None as Williams Driver Academy member
Flag of Japan.svg Sara Matsui [9] 2024Karting (OKJ)None as Williams Driver Academy member

Former drivers

DriverYearsSeries competedF1 Team(s)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lance Stroll [10] 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2016) Williams (2017–2018)
Racing Point (2019–2020)
Aston Martin (2021–)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Rowland [11] 2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup (2018), Formula E (2018–19)None
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nicholas Latifi [12] 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019) Williams (2020–2022)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Ticktum [13] [14] 2020–2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship (20202021)None
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Aitken [15] 2020–2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship (20202021), GT World Challenge Europe (2021) Williams (2020)
Flag of Israel.svg Roy Nissany [16] 2020–2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship (20202022), F3 Asian Championship (2021)None
Flag of the United States.svg Logan Sargeant 2021–2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022) Williams (2023–2024)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Gray 2022–2023 F4 British Championship (2022), FIA Formula 3 Championship (2023)None

See also

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References

  1. Barretto, Lawrence (8 April 2020). "The Williams Driver Academy: A pursuit of talent with a commercial upside". F1 . Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. "Jamie Chadwick joins Williams Racing Driver Academy". Williams F1. 20 May 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  3. "Jamie Chadwick continues in the Williams Racing Driver Academy". www.williamsf1.com. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  4. "British teen racer Zak O'Sullivan joins Williams Driver Academy | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  5. "Franco Colapinto joins Williams Racing Driver Academy". Williams Racing. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  6. "Luke Browning joins the Williams Racing Driver Academy".
  7. "Oleksandr Bondarev joins the Williams Racing Driver Academy".
  8. "Lia Block to drive for Williams Racing in F1 Academy". Williams Racing. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Alessandro Giusti and Sara Matsui join the Williams Racing Driver Academy". Williams Racing. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  10. "Williams sign Canadian Lance Stroll to young driver programme". Sky Sports. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  11. "Oliver Rowland gets Williams Formula 1 role for 2018". www.autosport.com. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  12. "W Series star Jamie Chadwick joins Williams' Driver Academy | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. "Dan Ticktum joins Williams Racing Driver Academy". Williams F1. 17 December 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  14. "Williams release development driver Dan Ticktum | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  15. "Jack Aitken confirmed as Reserve Driver for ROKiT Williams Racing". Williams F1. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. "Roy Nissany is confirmed as Official Test Driver". Williams F1. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.