Audi Driver Development Programme
| Founded | 2019 (as Sauber Junior Team) |
|---|---|
| Base | Hinwil, Zürich, Switzerland |
| Team principal(s) | Allan McNish |
| Current drivers | Formula 3 Freddie SlaterF1 Academy  TBA |
The Audi Driver Development Programme, formerly known as the Sauber Junior Team and Sauber Academy, is a driver development programme by Audi F1 Team to support drivers through the feeder series ladder to promote them to their Formula One team.
In November 2018, Sauber Motorsport entered a partnership with Czech team Charouz Racing System to form the Sauber Junior Team. With Charouz give the drivers who competed in Formula 2 and Formula 3 the junior status.[1] Sauber and Charouz expanded their involvement in Formula 4, they collaborate with US Racing.[2] After 2019 Sauber parted ways with Charouz and rebranded the programme as the Sauber Academy.[3][4][5]
After Audi took over Sauber's entry, the team launched their driver academy, which indirectly replaced the Sauber Academy.[6]
Current drivers
[edit]| Driver | Years | Current series | Titles as Audi Driver Development Programme driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freddie Slater[7]
|
2026– | Formula Regional Oceania Trophy FIA Formula 3 |
none as Audi Driver Development Programme driver |
| TBA
|
2026– | F1 Academy | none as Audi Driver Development Programme driver |
Former drivers
[edit]Sauber Junior Team (2019)
[edit]| Driver | Years | Series that driver competed as Sauber Junior Team |
|---|---|---|
 Juan Manuel Correa
|
2019 | FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019) |
 Alessandro Ghiretti
|
2019 | ADAC Formula 4 (2019) |
 Raoul Hyman
|
2019 | FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019) |
| Callum Ilott[note 1]
|
2019 | FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019) |
 Arthur Leclerc
|
2019 | ADAC Formula 4 (2019) |
| Théo Pourchaire
|
2019 | ADAC Formula 4 (2019) |
 Fabio Scherer
|
2019 | FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019) |
 Roman Staněk
|
2019 | ADAC Formula 4 (2019) Italian F4 Championship (2019) |
 Lirim Zendeli
|
2019 | FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019) |
Sauber Academy (2020–2025)
[edit]
Sauber Karting Team
[edit]After the creation of Sauber Junior Team, They created a karting team in March 2019, aligned with Kart Republic.[19]
| Driver | Years | Series that driver competed |
|---|---|---|
| Joshua Dufek
|
2019 | Karting (2019) |
| Dexter Patterson
|
2019 | Karting (2019) |
 Christian Ho
|
2019–2021 | Karting (2019–2021) |
 Piotr Czaja
|
2020 | Karting (2020) |
| Harry Thompson[20]
|
2020 | Karting (2020) |
| Ugo Ugochukwu[21]
|
2020–2021 | Karting (2020–2021) |
| Tiziano Monza[22]
|
2020–2021 | Karting (2020–2021) |
 Miguel Costa[23][24]
|
2020–2022 | Karting – OKJ (2020–2022) |
| Sonny Smith[25]
|
2021 | Karting – OKJ (2021) |
| Maciej Gładysz[26]
|
2021 | Karting – OKJ (2021) |
| Gustaw Wiśniewski[26]
|
2021 | Karting – OKJ (2021) |
 Zachary David[27]
|
2021–2022 | Karting – OK (2021–2022) |
Sauber Affiliate drivers
[edit]In 2014, Sauber set up Sauber Affiliate drivers, a F1 preparation programme with the team, including on-track testing, simulator work, as well as mental and physical training, with the goal of gaining the FIA Super Licence required for F1 competition.[28]
| Driver | Years | Series that driver competed as Sauber Affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Simona de Silvestro
|
2014 | None |
Notes
[edit]- ^ In 2019 Ilott was part of both the Sauber Junior Team and the Ferrari Driver Academy.
References
[edit]- ^ "Sauber establish junior team with Charouz Racing System". 15 November 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ Kalinauckas, Alex (9 April 2019). "Arthur Leclerc joins Sauber junior team". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Théo Pourchaire and Roberto Faria fly the flag for Sauber Academy". 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (24 June 2020). "Sauber relaunches its F1 junior programme with four drivers". FormulaScout. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (29 January 2020). "Karters Harry Thompson and Miguel Costa become Sauber juniors". FormulaScout. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "Audi announce Driver Development Programme with Allan McNish as Director". F1. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Audi sign Freddie Slater to Driver Development Programme". Formula 1. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "Sauber junior Emmo Fittipaldi to make car racing debut in Danish F4". 18 March 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Cleeren, Filip (24 June 2024). "Sauber F1 team looking to find Pourchaire a new IndyCar seat". Motorsport. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Wood, Ida (18 December 2024). "Sauber confirms departure of F1 reserve drivers Pourchaire and Maloney". Formula Scout. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Comeback to greater things: Juan Manuel Correa joins Sauber Academy". Sauber Group. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ Allen, Peter (16 March 2022). "Roberto Faria joins Theo Pourchaire in Sauber Academy". Formula Scout. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Raising the champions of the future: Sauber Academy announces 2023 line-up". Sauber. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Karters Harry Thompson and Miguel Costa become Sauber juniors". 29 January 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Wood, Ida (5 November 2024). "Miguel Costa steps up from karting to cars with Campos in Spanish F4". Formula Scout. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Zane Maloney joins Sauber Academy and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber as Reserve Driver". Formula 2. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Schreiner to represent Sauber Academy in F1 Academy for 2024". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Zambarloukos, Alexander (17 December 2024). "Für eine 17-jährige Welserin lebt der Traum von der Formel 1". Oberösterreichische Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ Mitchell, Scott (29 March 2019). "Sauber launches kart team with ex-Rosberg/Hamilton boss". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Karters Harry Thompson and Miguel Costa become Sauber juniors". 29 January 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Scout, Formula (22 July 2021). "Five young drivers Alfa Romeo should support in its Stellantis era". Formula Scout. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Tiziano Monza – Mini Driver". 24 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Karters Harry Thompson and Miguel Costa become Sauber juniors". 29 January 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Wood, Ida (5 November 2024). "Miguel Costa steps up from karting to cars with Campos in Spanish F4". Formula Scout. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "New F1 juniors join grid for 2021 karting season opener in Italy". 16 February 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Sauber's karting team welcomes Maciej Gladysz and Gustaw Wisniewski". 2 February 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "David Zachary joins the Sauber Karting Team". 7 December 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Sauber hire IndyCar driver Simona de Silvestro to prepare her for F1". The Guardian. 14 February 2014.
External links
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