Mercedes Junior Team

Last updated

Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes Junior Team
FoundedMercedes Junior Team (2014 (2014))
Base Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, UK
Team principal(s)Gwen Lagrue (co-Director)
Current driversFIA Formula 2
Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Formula 4
Flag of Jamaica.svg Alex Powell
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yuanpu Cui
F1 Academy
Flag of France.svg Doriane Pin
Karting
Flag of Spain.svg Luna Fluxá
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kenzo Craigie
Website https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/team

The Mercedes Junior Team is an initiative by the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team to help nurture talent from karts through the feeder series ladder to promote them to their Formula One team. All eligible drivers have been promoted to Formula One, with Pascal Wehrlein, Esteban Ocon and George Russell, the latter driving for Mercedes from 2022.

Contents

Current drivers

DriverYearsCurrent seriesTitles achieved as Mercedes Junior Team member
Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Kimi Antonelli [1] 2018– FIA Formula 2 Championship Formula Regional European Championship
Formula Regional Middle East Championship
Italian F4 Championship
ADAC Formula 4 Championship
CIK-FIA European Championship - OK (2x)
WSK Euro Series - OK
WSK Euro Series - OKJ
WSK Super Master Series - OKJ
WSK Open Cup - OKJ
WSK Final Cup - OKJ
23° South Garda Winter Cup - Mini ROK
24° South Garda Winter Cup - OKJ
WSK Champions Cup - 60 Mini
ROK Cup International Final - Mini ROK
Flag of Jamaica.svg Alex Powell [2] 2019– Formula 4 UAE Championship
Italian F4 Championship
Euro 4 Championship
ROK Cup Superfinal - Mini ROK
24° South Garda Winter Cup - Mini ROK
WSK Final Cup - 60 Mini
Champions of the Future - OK
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yuanpu Cui [3] 2021– Formula 4 UAE Championship
F4 British Championship
none as Mercedes Junior Team member
Flag of Denmark.svg Frederik Vesti [4] 2021– European Le Mans Series none as Mercedes Junior Team member
Flag of Spain.svg Luna Fluxá [5] 2022–Karting (OK)none as Mercedes Junior Team member
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kenzo Craigie [6] 2023–Karting (OKJ)none as Mercedes Junior Team member
Flag of France.svg Doriane Pin [7] 2024– Formula 4 UAE Championship
F1 Academy
IMSA SportsCar Championship
FIA World Endurance Championship
Formula Regional European Championship
none as Mercedes Junior Team member

Former drivers

DriverYearsSeries that driver competed as Mercedes JuniorF1 Team(s)
Flag of Germany.svg Pascal Wehrlein [8] 2014–2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (20142015, 2018)
Formula One (20162017)
Manor (2016)
Sauber (2017)
Flag of France.svg Esteban Ocon [9] [10] 2015–2019 [note 1] GP3 Series ( 2015 )
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2016)
Formula One (20162018)
Manor (2016)
Force India (2017–2018)
Renault (2020)
Alpine (2021–2024)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Russell [11] 2017–2021 GP3 Series (2017)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2018)
Formula One (20192021)
Williams (2019–2021)
Mercedes (2020, 2022–)
Flag of Estonia.svg Paul Aron [12] [13] 2019–2023 Italian F4 Championship (2019)
ADAC F4 Championship (2019)
Formula Renault Eurocup (2020)
Formula Regional European Championship (20212022)
Formula Regional Asian Championship (2022)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2023)
None
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Daniel Guinchard [5] [14] 2022 F4 British Championship (2022)None

Notes

  1. Despite Ocon apparently being released from the junior team, he is still managed by the academy's boss Toto Wolff.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ART Grand Prix</span> French motor racing team

ART Grand Prix is a French motor racing team that competes in formula single-seaters in Europe. In 2012, it competed in the GP2 Series and GP3 Series as Lotus GP to reflect sponsorship from British sports and racing car manufacturer Lotus. The team competed as Lotus ART in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine Academy</span> Program to support young racing drivers through their careers

The Alpine Academy – formerly known as the RF1 Driver Programme, Renault Driver Development and Renault Sport Academy – is a program to support young racing drivers through their careers. The programme was created by Renault F1 in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jérôme d'Ambrosio</span> Belgian racing driver (born 1985)

Jérôme d’Ambrosio is a Belgian former professional racing driver, motorsport executive and Driver Development Director at Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. He was formerly the Team Principal of Venturi Racing in Formula E.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prema Racing</span> Motorsport team from Italy

Prema Racing is a motorsport team from Italy. It operates in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and FIA Formula 3 Championship as well as various junior championships. In 2022 the team made its FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series entries, beginning the efforts in the endurance racing. The team was founded in 1983 and is located in Grisignano di Zocco, in the Veneto region. Prema has been a talent pool for several Formula 1 junior programs: from Toyota and Renault in the early days; to Alpine, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams in recent years. For 2023, the team will enter nine championships, fielding a total of 28 drivers. Prema is also set to participate in the IndyCar Series from 2025.

Mercedes-Benz, a German luxury automotive brand of the Mercedes-Benz Group, has been involved in Formula One as both team owner and engine manufacturer for various periods since 1954. The current Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is based in Brackley, England, and possesses a German licence. An announcement was made in December 2020 that Ineos planned to take a one third equal ownership stake alongside the Mercedes-Benz Group and Toto Wolff; this came into effect on 25 January 2022. Mercedes-branded teams are often referred to by the nickname, the "Silver Arrows".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pascal Wehrlein</span> German and Mauritian racing driver (born 1994)

Pascal Wehrlein is a German and Mauritian racing driver currently competing in Formula E for Porsche. He previously raced in Formula One for the Sauber and Manor teams. Holding dual nationality of Germany and Mauritius, he raced under the German flag in Formula One. He had previously raced in DTM, winning the title with the Mercedes-Benz team HWA AG in 2015. In 2013, Wehrlein became the youngest driver to start a DTM race at the age of 18, in 2014, he became the youngest driver to take pole position and a race win at the age of 19, and the following year, he was the youngest to win the title, at the age of 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esteban Ocon</span> French racing driver (born 1996)

Esteban José Jean-Pierre Ocon-Khelfane is a French racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Alpine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Formula One World Championship</span> 68th season of FIA Formula One World Championship

The 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 71st season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 68th Formula One World Championship, a motor racing championship for Formula One cars which is recognised by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. Teams and drivers competed in twenty Grands Prix—starting in Australia on 26 March and ending in Abu Dhabi on 26 November—for the World Drivers' and World Constructors' championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters</span>

The 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the thirtieth season of premier German touring car championship and also seventeenth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. The season started on 7 May at Hockenheim, and ended on 16 October at the same venue. Marco Wittmann won his 2nd DTM championship after a total of nine events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Belgian Grand Prix</span> The 13th round of the 2016 Formula One season

The 2016 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 28 August 2016 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium. It was the thirteenth round of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, and marks the seventy-second running of the Belgian Grand Prix and the fifty-ninth time the race was held at Spa-Francorchamps.

Manor Grand Prix Racing Limited, trading as Manor Racing MRT or Pertamina Manor Racing MRT, was a British Formula One racing team and constructor based in Banbury, Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. The team competed from 2010 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manor MRT05</span> Racing automobile

The Manor MRT05 is a Formula One racing car designed by Manor Racing for use in the 2016 Formula One season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix</span> 2017 Formula 1 race

The 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that was held on 25 June 2017 at the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The race was the eighth round of the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship, and was the maiden running of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a round of the Formula One World Championship. It was the second time that a race was held at the circuit and the second time that a Grand Prix was held in Azerbaijan.

The 2019 Italian F4 Championship Powered by Abarth was the sixth season of the Italian F4 Championship. Norwegian driver Dennis Hauger dominated the championship, winning twelve out of the 21 races, helping his team Van Amersfoort Racing to become teams' champions. The rookie championship was won by Mercedes junior Paul Aron, who won two races in the overall championship. Hauger's closest challenger Gianluca Petecof won four races, and Roman Staněk, Joshua Dürksen and Giorgio Carrara won one race each.

The Sauber Academy – formerly known as the Sauber Junior Team – is an initiative by Sauber Motorsport to help nurture talent from karts through the feeder series ladder to promote them to their Formula One team.

The 2022 Italian F4 Championship Powered by Abarth was the ninth season of the Italian F4 Championship. The series moved onto new generation of the Formula 4 cars, continuing its collaboration with Tatuus and Abarth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Kimi Antonelli</span> Italian racing driver (born 2006)

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, more commonly known as Kimi Antonelli, is an Italian racing driver who is currently competing in the 2024 Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing. He previously raced in the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship with the team. Antonelli has won multiple single-seater titles throughout his career, namely the Italian F4 Championship and ADAC Formula 4 Championship for Prema, the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with Mumbai Falcons, and the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship with Prema. He has been part of the Mercedes Junior Team since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Barnard</span> British racing driver (born 2004)

Taylor Barnard is a British racing driver who is currently racing for AIX Racing in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship and is the reserve and development driver for theMcLaren Formula E Team. He was runner-up in the final season of ADAC Formula 4, and a race winner in FIA Formula 3 for Jenzer Motorsport. He was as a former protégé of Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg. He made his Formula E debut with McLaren at the 2024 Monaco ePrix and is currently the youngest driver to start a race and youngest points scorer in Formula E.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Formula Regional European Championship</span>

The 2023 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine was a multi-event, Formula Regional open-wheel single seater motor racing championship held across Europe. The championship featured a mix of professional and amateur drivers, competing in Formula Regional cars that conform to the FIA Formula Regional regulations for the championship. This was the fifth season of the championship and the third after a merger with Formula Renault Eurocup which resulted to the change of the engine supplier to Alpine.

The 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine is a multi-event, Formula Regional open-wheel single seater motor racing championship held across Europe. The championship features a mix of professional and amateur drivers, competing in Formula Regional cars that conform to the FIA Formula Regional regulations for the championship. This is the sixth season of the championship and the fourth after a merger with Formula Renault Eurocup which resulted to the change of the engine supplier to Alpine.

References

  1. "Mercedes: sarà Andrea Kimi Antonelli l'erede di Lewis Hamilton? (Mercedes: will Andrea Kimi Antonelli be the heir to Lewis Hamilton?)". Motorsport.com (in Italian). 3 February 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. Korney, Stephanie (10 April 2019). "Alex Powell, 11, Becomes First Jamaican, Caribbean Driver to Sign with Formula 1 Team". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  3. "Mercedes sign 13-year-old Chinese karter Yuanpu Cui to junior programme". Formula 1®. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  4. "Frederik Vesti - Junior Drivers". Mercedes AMG F1. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Class of 2022: The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's Junior Programme". Mercedes AMG F1. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  6. "Mercedes announce seven junior drivers for 2023 – including new British recruit". Formula 1®. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. "Doriane Pin joins Mercedes Junior Programme for 2024 F1 Academy campaign". Formula 1®. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  8. "NEWS: Mercedes and Pascal Wehrlein to part ways". Mercedes AMG F1. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  9. Collantine, Keith (7 May 2015). "Ocon joins Mercedes' young driver roster". RaceFans. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  10. Noble, Jonathan (30 August 2019). "Renault "very clear" Ocon deal is no Mercedes loan". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  11. "George Russell: World champions Mercedes sign teenager from King's Lynn". BBC Sport. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  12. Scott, Mark (5 July 2019). "Mercedes add 15-year-old Aron to junior ranks". PlanetF1. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  13. Scout, Formula (27 November 2023). "Paul Aron confirms exit from Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Team". Formula Scout. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  14. Feeder Series. "Daniel Guinchard has confirmed to F1 Feeder Series he would part ways with the Mercedes Junior Team". Twitter. Retrieved 5 November 2022.