Overview
- The team confirmed on November 10 that 18-year-old Italian Matteo De Palo has joined its Driver Development Programme.
- De Palo will race in McLaren colours at this month’s Macau Grand Prix and is set to graduate to FIA Formula 3 with Trident in 2026.
- McLaren will release Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne and Brando Badoer from the academy at the end of the year.
- De Palo finished runner-up in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship with four wins and seven additional podiums for Trident.
- Programme lead Alessandro Alunni Bravi welcomed De Palo and reiterated the pathway’s goal of progressing drivers toward McLaren’s F1, IndyCar and future WEC efforts.